Chemiluminescence was generated from the system of AuCl4--H2O2 and KOH, and the addition of cationic surfactant CTMAB (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) was able to increase the sensitivity and the stability of the chemiluminescent system. A new chemiluminescent method for the determination of gold was thus established, and was used to determine gold in ores. The detection limit is 5.5 ppb Au. The linear range is from 10 to 800 ppb Au. It is suggested that the O2 produced existed in the excited state, which was responsible for the generation of chemiluminescence. The role of CTMAB is discussed.

Key words: GOLD, SURFACTANTS, CHLORIDE, QUATERNARY SYSTEM, HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, CHEMILUMINESCENCE ANALYSIS, POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE, GOLD COMPOUNDS, CHEMILUMINESSENCE