Zinc(II) reacts rapidly with meso-tetrakis(3-N-methylpyridyl)porphyrin [T(3-MPy)P] to form a 1:1 complex over the pH range 8.7-9.7 at room temperature The interference caused by remaining [T(3-MPy)p] can be eliminated by adding a small excess of copper(II) to form copper(II) complex. The fluorescence is measured at 606 nm after 0.5 h of complexation with excitation at 430 nm at room temperature The calibration curve is linear for 0-1.0 mg Zn(II)/25 mL; the detection limit of the method is 1 ppb. The method established could be used for the determination of zinc in tap water and hair.

Key words: FLUORIMETRIC ANALYSIS, PORPHINE P, PYRIDINE P, ZINC, WATER QUALITY ANALYSIS, HUMAN HAIR, TRACE ANALYSIS, FLUOROSPECTROPHOTOMETRY