Thomas Guetzloff, West Virginia State University, PO Box 1000, PO Box 1000, Institute, WV 25112-1000
Diaminonaphthalimide Dye (ED-4) is a non-toxic florescent dye that chelates to metals and can quantifiably determine the metal ion concentration of iron (III) in lubricant solutions (Utecht et al., 1992). The dye exhibits a characteristic fluorescence spectrum with and without metal chelation. The fluorescence lifetimes and emission spectra are dependent on the individual metal ion chelated with the dye. However, the usefulness of ED-4 with metal ions comes from examining the emissions at 495 and 530 nm, respectively. The ratio of the fluorescence at 495:530 nm can be used to qualitatively (possibly even quantitatively) determine the Cu (II) concentration in non-aqueous solutions. The goal of the research is to develop a low cost methodolgy for detecting metals in soils on site such as copper.