Miniaturized back-side contact transducer for potentiometric sensors

A novel type of a miniature transducer for potentiometric sensors was designed and tested. The transducer is made from an ordinary printed circuit board using a typical technology. As a result, a back-side contact structure was obtained, which can be mounted in flow systems. The advantage of the fabrication process is its cheapness and flexibility in designing modified structures. The measurement properties of the transducer were tested as a chloride sensor. Then the structure was covered with polyHEMA and a potassium-selective membrane and tested as a potassium sensor. The performance and the long-term stability of the sensors with plasticized PVC and Siloprene based potassium-selective membranes were compared.     

Determination of cerium ion by polymeric membrane and coated graphite electrode based on novel pendant armed macrocycle

Plasticized membranes using 2,3,4:12,13,14-dipyridine-1,3,5,8,11,13,15,18-octaazacycloicosa-2,12-diene (L₁) and 2,3,4:12,13,14-dipyridine-1,5,8,11,15,18-hexamethylacrylate-1,3,5,8,11,13,15,18-octaazacycloicosa-2,12-diene (L₂) have been prepared and explored as Ce(III) selective sensors. Effect of various plasticizers viz. dibutylphthalate (DBP), tri-n-butylphthalate (TBP), o-nitrophenyloctylether (o-NPOE), dioctylphthalate (DOP), benzylacetate (BA) and anion excluders, sodium tetraphenylborate (NaTPB) and potassium tetrakis p-(chlorophenyl) borate was studied in detail and improved performance was observed. Optimum performance was observed for the membrane sensor having a composition of L₂:PVC:o-NPOE:KTpClPB in the ratio of 6:34:58:2 (w/w, mg). The performance of the membrane based on L₂ was compared with polymeric membrane electrode (PME) as well as with coated graphite electrode (CGE). The electrodes exhibit Nernstian slope for Ce(III) ions with limits of detection of 8.3 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹ for PME and 7.7 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹ for CGE. The response time for PME and CGE was found to be 12 s and 10 s respectively. The potentiometric responses are independent of the pH of the test solution in the pH range 3.5-7.5 for PME and 2.5-8.5 for CGE. The CGE could be used for a period of 5 months. The practical utility of the CGE has been demonstrated by its usage as an indicator electrode in potentiometric titration of oxalate and fluoride ions with Ce(III) solution. The proposed electrode was also successfully applied to the determination of fluoride ions in mouthwash solution and oxalate ions in real samples.     

Development of electrochemical sensors for nano scale Tb(III) ion determination based on pendant macrocyclic ligands

The two macrocyclic pendant ligands 3,4,5:12,13,14-dipyridine-2,6,11,15-tetramethyl-1,7,10,16-tetramethylacrylate-1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaazacyclooctadeca-3,13-di ene (L₁) and 3,4,5:12,13,14-dipyridine-2,6,11,15-tetramethyl-1,7,10,16-tetra(2-cyano ethane)-1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaazacyclooctadeca-3,13-diene (L₂) have been synthesized and explored as neutral ionophores for preparing poly(vinylchloride) (PVC) based membrane sensors selective to Tb(III) ions. Effects of various plasticizers and anion excluders were studied in detail and improved performance was observed. The best performance was obtained for the membrane sensor having a composition of L₁: PVC:1-CN:NaTPB in the ratio of 6: 32: 58: 4 (w/w; mg). The performance of the membrane based on L₁ was compared with polymeric membrane electrode (PME) as well as with coated graphite electrode (CGE). The electrodes exhibit Nernstian slope for Tb³⁺ ions with limits of detection of 3.4 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹ for PME and 5.7 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹ for CGE. The response time for PME and CGE was found to be 10 s and 8 s, respectively. The potentiometric responses are independent of the pH of the test solution in the pH range 3.0-7.5 for PME and 2.0-8.5 for CGE. The CGE has found to work satisfactorily in partially non-aqueous media upto 30% (v/v) content of methanol, ethanol and 20% (v/v) content of acetonitrile and could be used for a period of 5 months. The CGE was used as indicator electrode in the potentiometric titration of Tb³⁺ ions with EDTA and in determination of fluoride ions in various samples. It can also be used in direct determination of Tb³⁺ ions in tap water and various binary mixtures with quantitative results.     

Chronocoulometric flow-injection analysis with solvent polymeric membrane ion sensors

A method to carry out chronocoulometric measurements with solvent polymeric membrane ion sensors in flow-injection systems has been developed. For this, a double potential step was synchronised to the passage of the sample plug through the detector cell. A four-electrode potentiostat with ohmic drop compensation and a new flow-through cell to incorporate the four-electrode and the membrane were developed. A plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane containing TBATBP was used and the procedure was applied to the determination of tetraethyl-ammonium. The effect of the electrochemical and flow-injection variables was studied. In the selected conditions, a linear relationship between the quantity of electricity and tetraethyl-ammonium concentration was obtained in the range 5×10⁻⁷-5×10⁻⁵ M. The detection limit was 7×10⁻⁸ M. Good repeatability and between day reproducibility were obtained. The potential application to other quaternary ammonium ions including acetylcholine was also studied.     

Microfabricated ISEs: critical comparison of inherently conducting polymer and hydrogel based inner contacts

A rigorous side by side comparison of miniature planar potassium-selective electrodes with hydrogel and potassium hexacyanoferrate(II)/(III) doped polypyrrole (PPy/FeCN) based inner contacts is presented. The planar electrodes were manufactured by screen printing as four- and five-site arrays on ceramic substrates. These electrode arrays were incorporated into a flow-through cell, which could accommodate nine electrode sites. Two identical flow cells were connected in series and the effect of the inner contacts on the analytical performance of the respective electrodes has been critically evaluated. The time necessary to reach steady state conditions has been determined and the effect of experimental parameters (temperature, ambient light intensity, CO₂, and O₂ concentration of the sample) on the potential stability of the electrodes was analyzed. At controlled temperature, the drift of the planar potassium electrodes with hydrogel and PPy/FeCN solid contact were 0.11±0.02 mV h⁻¹ and 0.03±0.007 mV h⁻¹, respectively. The experimental data proved that there is no aqueous film formation between the PPy/FeCN film and the potassium-selective solvent polymeric membrane.     

Bis (trans-cinnamaldehyde) ethylene diimine dibromonickel (II) complex as a neutral carrier for salicylate-selective liquid membrane and coated graphite sensors

A salicylate PVC-based membrane (SPME) and a coated graphite membrane (SCGE) electrodes by using a new tetracoordinate organonickel complex as ion carrier were prepared. Both sensors show a Nernstian response to salicylate ions over a very wide concentration ranges (1.0×10⁻⁵-1.0×10⁻¹ M for SPME and 1.0×10⁻⁶-1.0×10⁻² M for SCGE) in the pH of 7.0. The best selectivities were obtained for the membrane incorporating 30% PVC, 63% plasticizer, 2% cationic additive and 5% ionophore. The electrodes possess satisfactory reproducibility, very short response time (∼10 s) in the whole concentration ranges, and excellent discriminating ability for salicylate ions with respect to the most common organic and inorganic anions. The detection limits of proposed sensors are 5.0×10⁻⁶ and 7.0×10⁻⁷ M for SPME and SCGE, respectively. The electrodes were successfully used for determination of salicylate in biological samples.     

Influence of inner transducer properties on EMF response and stability of solid-contact anion-selective membrane electrodes based on metalloporphyrin ionophores

The performance of solid-contact coated-wire-type electrodes with plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) membranes containing metalloporphyrins as anion-selective ionophores is reported. The membranes are deposited on transducers based on graphite pastes and graphite rods. The hydrophobicity of the underlying conductive transducer surface is found to be a key factor that influences the formation of an aqueous layer beneath the polymer film. Elimination of this ill-defined water layer greatly improves the electrochemical properties of the ion-sensors, such as electromotive force stability and lifetime. Only highly lipophilic electrode substrates, namely graphite paste with mineral oil, were shown to prevent the formation of aqueous layer underneath the ion-sensing membrane. The possibility of employing Co(III)-tetraphenylporphyrin both as NO₂ ⁻ selective ionophore and as electron- and ion-conducting species to ensure ion-to-electron translation was also discussed based on the results of preliminary experiments.     

Determination of cobalt ions at nano-level based on newly synthesized pendant armed macrocycle by polymeric membrane and coated graphite electrode

Poly(vinylchloride) (PVC) based membranes of macrocycles 2,3,4:9,10,11-dipyridine-1,3,5,8,10,12-hexaazacyclotetradeca-2,9-diene (L₁) and 2,3,4:9,10,11-dipyridine-1,5,8,12-tetramethylacrylate-1,3,5,8,10,12-hexaazacyclotetradeca-2,9-diene (L₂) with NaTPB and KTpClPB as anion excluders and dibutylphthalate (DBP), benzyl acetate (BA), dioctylphthalate (DOP), o-nitrophenyloctyl ether (o-NPOE) and tri-n-butylphosphate (TBP) as plasticizing solvent mediators were prepared and investigated as Co²⁺ selective electrodes. The best performance was observed with the membranes having the composition L₂:PVC:TBP:NaTPB in the ratio of 6:39:53:2 (w/w; mg). The performance of the membrane based on L₂ was compared with polymeric membrane electrode (PME) and coated graphite electrode (CGE). The PME exhibits detection limit of 4.7 × 10⁻⁸ M with a Nernstian slope of 29.7 mV decade⁻¹ of activity between pH 2.5 and 8.5 whereas CGE exhibits the detection limit of 6.8 × 10⁻⁹ M with a Nernstian slope of 29.5 mV decade⁻¹ of activity between pH 2.0 and 9.0. The response time for PME and CGE was found to be 11 and 8 s, respectively. The CGE has been found to work satisfactorily in partially non-aqueous media up to 35% (v/v) content of methanol, ethanol and 25% (v/v) content of acetonitrile and could be used for a period of 4 months. The CGE was successfully applied for the determination of Co²⁺ in real and pharmaceutical samples and as an indicator electrode in potentiometric titration of cobalt ion.     

Measurement of sodium ion concentration in undiluted urine with cation-selective polymeric membrane electrodes after the removal of interfering compounds

The measurement of sodium ion concentration in urine can provide diagnostic information and guide therapy. Unfortunately, neutral-carrier-based ion-selective electrodes show a large positive drift and loss in selectivity in undiluted urine. The extraction of electrically neutral lipids from the urine into the sensing membrane was suggested as the main source of the drift, loss of selectivity and the consequent incorrect concentration readings.In this work, (i) solvent-solvent extraction, (ii) membrane-immobilized solvent extraction and (iii) solid phase extraction were used to remove interfering compounds from urine samples. The “cleaned” urine samples were subsequently analyzed using a calixarene (sodium ionophore X)-based, solid-contact, sodium-selective electrode in a flow-through manifold. The solid-contact sodium sensors had excellent stability in cleaned urine and an acceptable bias compared to commercial clinical analyzers.     

Trace Analysis of Al (III) Ions Based on the Redox Current of a Conducting Polymer

A conducting polymer was electrochemically prepared on a Pt electrode with newly synthesized 3′‐(4‐formyl‐3‐hydroxy‐1‐phenyl)‐5,2′ : 5′,2″‐terthiophene (FHPT) in a 0.1 M TBAP/CH₂Cl₂ solution. The polymer‐modified electrode exhibited a response to proton and metal ions, especially Al(III) ions. The poly[FHPT] was characterized with cyclic voltammetry, EQCM, and applied to the analysis of trace levels of Al(III) ions. Experimental parameters affecting the response of the poly[FHPT] were investigated and optimized. Other metal ions in low concentration did not interfere with the analysis of Al(III) ions in a buffer solution at pH 7.4. The response was linear over the concentration range of 5.0×10^?8–7.0×10^?10 M, and the detection limit was 5.0×10^?10 M using the linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). Employing the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), the response was linear over the 1.0×10^?9–5.0×10^?11 M range and the detection limit was 3.0×10^?11 M. The relative standard deviation at 5.0×10^?11 M was 7.2% (n=5) in DPV. This analytical method was successfully verified for the analysis of trace amounts of Al(III) ions in a human urine sample.     

New long-chain-substituted polymeric metal-free and metallophthalocyanines by microwave irradiation: Synthesis and characterization

A tetranitrile monomer N,N-bis{2-[2-(3,4-dicyanophenoxy)ethoxy]ethyl}-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide (3) was synthesized by nucleophilic aromatic substitution of N,N-bis[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethyl]-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide (1) onto 4-nitrophthalonitrile (2). The metal-free phthalocyanine polymer (4) was prepared by the reaction of a tetranitrile monomer 3 in 2-(dimethylamino)ethanol. Ni(II), Co(II) and Cu(II) phthalocyanine polymers were prepared by the reaction of the tetranitrile compound with the chlorides of Ni(II), Co(II) and Cu(II) in 2-(dimethylamino)ethanol (DMAE). The Zn(II)-phthalocyanine polymer was prepared by the reaction of the tetranitrile compound with the acetate of Zn(II) in DMAE. The new compounds were characterized by a combination of IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, UV–Vis, elemental analysis and MS spectral data.     

Calix[2]furano[2]pyrrole and related compounds as the neutral carrier in silver ion-selective electrode

The performance of calix[2]furano[2]pyrrole and related compounds used as neutral carriers for silver selective polymeric membrane electrode was investigated. The silver ion-selective electrode based on calix[2]furano[2]pyrroles gave a good Nernstian response of 57.1 mV per decade for silver ion in the activity range 1×10⁻⁶ to 1×10⁻² M. The present silver ion-selective electrode displayed very good selectivity for Ag⁺ ion against alkali and alkaline earth metal ions, NH₄⁺, and H⁺. In particular, the present Ag⁺-selective electrode exhibited very low responses towards Hg²⁺ and Pb²⁺ ions. The potentiometric selectivity coefficients of the silver ion-selective electrode exhibited a strong dependence on the solution pH. In particular, the response of the electrode to the Hg²⁺ activity was greatly diminished at pH 2.5 compared to that at pH 5.0. Overall, the performance of the present silver ion-selective electrode based on the ionophore, calix[2]furano[2]pyrrole, is very comparable to that of the electrode prepared with the commercially available neutral carrier in terms of slope, linear range, and detection limits.     

Synthesis,characterization, aggregation and thermal properties of a novel polymeric metal-free phthalocyanine and its metal complexes

A novel polymeric metal-free phthalocyanine (M = 2H) and its metal complexes (M = Zn, Cu, Co and Ni) were prepared by the tetramerization reaction of 3,6,9-Tris(p-tolylsulfonyl)-1,11-bis(3,4-dicyanophenoxy)-3,6,9-triazaundecane 5 with the appropriate materials. The electrical conductivities of the metal-free phthalocyanine and the metal complexes, measured in air, were found to be ∼10⁻⁶–10⁻⁵ S m⁻¹. The aggregation property of the zinc complex 7 was investigated with Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Ag⁺ cations. Thermal analysis of the polymers were done by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) at a heating rate of 10 °C min⁻¹ under a nitrogen atmosphere. All the novel compounds were characterized by using elemental analysis, UV–Vis, FT–IR, NMR and MS spectral data and DSC, DTA/TG techniques.     

A new polymeric phthalocyanine containing 16-membered tetrathia macrocyclic moieties by microwave irradiation: Synthesis and characterization

Tetranitrile monomer (3) was synthesized by nucleophilic aromatic substitution of 1,5,9,13-tetrathiacyclohexadecane-3,11-diol (1) onto 4-nitrophthalonitrile (2). The metal-free phthalocyanine polymer (4) was prepared by the reaction of a tetranitrile monomer with 4-({11-[3-cyano-4-(cyanomethyl)phenoxy]-1,5,9,13-tetrathiacyclohexadecan-3-yl}oxy)phthalonitrile in 2-(dimethylamino)ethanol. Ni(II), Co(II), Cu(I)-phthalocyanine polymers were prepared by the reaction of the tetranitrile compound with the chlorides of Ni(II), Co(II) and Cu(I) in DMAE. Zn(II)-phthalocyanine polymer was prepared by the reaction of the tetranitrile compound with the acetates of Zn(II) in DMAE. The new compounds were characterized by a combination of IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, UV-Vis, elemental analysis and MS spectral data.     

Synthesis,characterization, electrochemical and solvatochromic investigations of novel monomeric and polymeric vanadyl Schiff-base complexes

This article describes the synthesis and characterization of oxovanadium(IV) complexes containing tetradentate Schiff-base ligands derived from condensation of ethylenediamine, meso-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethylenediamine, 1,2-orthophenylenediamine and 1,2-cyclohexanediamine with 5-bromo-3-nitro-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde. The novel VOL¹:[VO(5-Br-3-NO₂salen)], VOL²:[VO(5-Br-3-NO₂saloph)] and VOL³:[VO(5-Br-3-NO₂salchxn)] complexes were obtained in orange polymeric form with (V=O) stretching bands at 878, 884 and 884?cm^?1, respectively, but the VOL⁴ complex was obtained as a green monomer with (V=O) stretching band at 978?cm^?1. The redox process in acetonitrile was reversible for VOL⁴ and E° was determined to be approximately 950?mV but for VOL^1–3 this process was irreversible or quasi-reversible. The VOL⁴ complex is considerably soluble in a wide variety of solvents and shows solvatochromic behavior. The ² B ₂?→²?E(I) transition wavenumber shows a linear correlation to the D.N. of the solvent.     

Membrane sensors for batch and flow injection potentiometric determination of ethamsylate (cyclonamine) in pharmaceutical preparations

The lipophilic nickel(II) and iron(II) bathophenanthroline derivatives of ethamsylate are used as ion-exchangers with high selectivity characteristics for ethamsylate. Poly(vinyl chloride) membrane sensors incorporating these electroactive materials display fast linear response for 1 × 10^–1–1 × 10^–4 M ethamsylate under static and hydrodynamic modes of operation. In an acetate buffer of pH 4, the calibration slope is 51–53 mV/concentration decade and the lower limit of detection is 5.3 g/ml. Except for salicylate and nitrate, most common anions, organic sulfonates, carboxylates, phenolates and various pharmaceutical excipients and diluents do not interfere. Determination of ethamsylate in various dosage forms shows an average recovery of 98.9% of the nominal and a mean standard deviation of 0.7%.     

Synthesis and characterization of a one-dimensional polymeric copper(Ⅱ)-tetrathioporphyrazine

The title polymer PCuS4Pz was synthesized by reaction of 2,3-dicyano-5,6-dihydro-1,4-dithiin,pyromellitic dianhydride and urea with cuprous salt in optimized gentle method.The structure and properties of the PCuS4Pz were characterized by elemental analysis,X-ray powder diffraction,IR,UV-Vis,fluorescence and EPR spectra and variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility.The polymer is black sublimable crystallite and the degree of polymerization has been found to be n>4.The PCuS4Pz in H2SO4 exhibits intensive absorption bands at 236,342,656 and 767 nm and intensive fluorescence band at 410 nm or 464 nm under the excitation of the ultraviolet light of a determined wavelength at room temperature.It has been found that the polymer exhibits a weaker antiferromag-netic interaction (J=-2.cm-1,εff=1.68 B.M.) with an apparent spin S<1/2 in the ground state and its conductivity 298K is 1.01×10-5 S-cm-1 at 13.73 MPa.     

Successive Determination of pH and Ammonical Nitrogen in Soil Samples

Abstract

A new, more rapid method for the determination of pH and ammonia in soil samples is described. The pH and pNH₃ are determined in the soil suspension following a vigorous stirring of the solutions using an electro-dynamic vibrator. A very good correlation was found between pH and pNH₃ in the suspension and the filtrate demonstrating the reliability of the measurements directly on the suspension.