Photostability of Uranine via Crossed-Beam Thermal Lens Technique

Abstract

Uranine is a diagnostic aid in ophthalmology and is used as an immunohistological stain. A photostability study on this important compound using a crossed-beam thermal lens (TL) technique was carried out. The study is based on the photodegradation (PD) behavior and rate regarding some experimental parameters such as the incident laser power, wavelength, modulation frequency, and sample concentration. The effects of such parameters on the TL signal and PD rate are discussed in details. It has been found that the PD rate is proportional to the power of the pumping laser and the concentration of the sample within the investigated range. However, the modulation frequency is found not to influence the PD rate. The photochemical quantum yield has been measured using potassium ferrioxalate actinometry and it was found to be very low.