Abstract
This review sums up in detail the sulfite-based chemiluminescence (CL) systems and the impact of various enhancers such as metal ions and their complexes, solvents, nanomaterials (NMs), and carbon dots (CDs) on the CL system. Recent developments and strategies employed to enhance the sulfite-based CL systems are under lengthy discussion, especially in view of the emitting species and the reaction mechanism. The production of free radicals in the systems is thought to be critical for the improvement of the sulfite CL system due to their potential to degrade organic pollutants via advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). However, different chemicals can either favor or disfavor the formation of free radicals, ultimately having a positive or negative impact on CL response. Interestingly, these reagents can be easily differentiated by observing fluctuations in CL response with changes in concentration. We anticipate that an in-depth understanding of the mechanism of action of the sulfite CL system and the role of various enhancers on the efficiency of the system will be helpful in designing a highly selective and sensitive CL system for the detection of specific reagents. The development of improved sulfite CL systems, which use reagents that give a linear CL response with concentration, and their use in chemical, food and agricultural, forensic, pharmaceutical, clinical, agricultural, and environmental analysis is judiciously highlighted.