Fluorescent method for monitoring oil degradation

摘要

A method for the qualitative or quantitative determination of the deleterious agent in a substantially non-aqueous medium, such as an oil. The method involves using a non-azo 1,8-naphthalimide dye for the detection or quantitation of the total hydrogen ion activity in a substantially non-aqueous medium. The method includes the steps of: Mixing the dye with the substantially non-aqueous medium, which may or may not contain any hydrogen ion, to form a mixture; irradiating the mixture with a fluorescent light sufficient to cause the mixture to emit a detectable fluorescent emission spectrum; detecting the fluorescent emission spectrum of the mixture; and comparing the detected fluorescent emission spectrum with standard fluorescent emission spectra generated by reacting the dye with different known hydrogen ion activities, wherein differences between the fluorescent emission spectra compared are dependent upon the presence or levels of the hydrogen ion activity present in the mixture.