Solvent-dependent ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption and Stokes shifts including strong hydrogen-bond-donating (HBD) solvents such as 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol and 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanoI of two coumarine dyes (Co 151 and Co 153) were analyzed with multiple-square analyses of linear solvation energy relationships and the Kamlet-Taft solvent parameter set to alpha (HBD capacity), beta (hydrogen-bond-accepting capacity), and pi* (dipolarity/polarizability). The UV-vis absorption and emission spectra of Co 151 and Cc 153 were measured when adsorbed on various polysaccharides such as different cellulose batches, carboxymethylcelluloses with different degrees of substitution, and chitine. As a result of this evaluation, Co 153 is recommended as an alternative UV-vis probe for evaluating the dipolarity/polarizability of cellulose and cellulose derivates. Multiple adsorption of Co 153 on Linters cellulose took place indicating a wide-surface polarity distribution, which makes the determination of a rigid polarity parameter questionable. Thus, fluorescence measurements of adsorbed Co 153 are suitable to detect inhomogenities on a surface but not for the determination of empirical polarity parameters. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.