Potentiometric determination of acids and bases using a silica gel based carbon-epoxy indicator electrode

The construction and the application of a silica gel based carbon-epoxy indicator electrode for the potentiometric determination of acids and bases are described. The effect of composition of silica gel and carbon-epoxy, slope (mV/pH), linear response (pH range) and the use for acid-base titrations were investigated. The data obtained for the acid-base titrations were compared with those obtained using a glass electrode in the same conditions. The electrode showed a linear response in the pH 2 to 13 range with a slope of -40.5 +/- 0.4 mV/pH (at 25 degrees C) and a response time of less than 15 s. The lifetime of the electrode was higher than one year (over 6000 determinations) with a decrease of only 5% of the initial potentiometric response. The silica gel based carbon-epoxy electrode showed excellent results in the end-point indication potentiometric titrations in determination of acids and bases. The miniaturization of the proposed electrode for flow injection analysis was investigated.     

Potentiometric determination of acids and bases using a silica gel based carbon-epoxy indicator electrode

The construction and the application of a silica gel based carbon-epoxy indicator electrode for the potentiometric determination of acids and bases are described. The effect of composition of silica gel and carbon-epoxy, slope (mV/pH), linear response (pH range) and the use for acid-base titrations were investigated. The data obtained for the acid-base titrations were compared with those obtained using a glass electrode in the same conditions. The electrode showed a linear response in the pH 2 to 13 range with a slope of –40.5 ± 0.4 mV/pH (at 25 °C) and a response time of less than 15 s. The lifetime of the electrode was higher than one year (over 6000 determinations) with a decrease of only 5% of the initial potentiometric response. The silica gel based carbon-epoxy electrode showed excellent results in the end-point indication potentiometric titrations in determination of acids and bases. The miniaturization of the proposed electrode for flow injection analysis was investigated. Received: 11 August 1999 / Revised: 4 October 1999 / Accepted: 7 October 1999     

Surface charge and zeta-potential of metabolically active and dead cyanobacteria

Zeta potential and acid-base titrations of active, inactivated, and dead Planktothrix sp. and Synechococcus sp. cyanobacteria were performed to determine the degree to which cell surface electric potential and proton/hydroxyl adsorption are controlled by metabolism or cell membrane structure. Surface OH(-) excess from potentiometric data, showed differences in surface charge between active and dead cyanobacteria from pH 3 to 10. Average zero salt effect pH (pH(pzse)) of 5.8+/-0.1 and 6.3+/-0.1 were obtained for active Planktothrix sp. and Synechococcus sp., respectively. Similarly for dead cyanobacteria pH(pzse) values of 5.8+/-0.1 and 4.6+/-0.1 were obtained. Zeta potentials of active Planktothrix sp. and Synechococcus sp. were positive at alkaline conditions, with a maximum of +13.7+/-1.5 mV at a pH of 9.0+/-0.1 for both species. This positive potential diminished in the presence of 1 mM HCO(-)(3). The zeta potential of Planktothrix sp. and Synechococcus sp. cells was negative at alkaline pH following their exposure to NaN(3), a metabolic inhibitor. The zeta potential of dead cyanobacteria was negative for Planktothrix sp., from pH 2.5 to 10.5, at -30 to -20 mV. Dead Synechococcus sp. exposed to a pH 2.5 solution recorded negative potentials to a minimum of -30 mV at pH 8, but positive potentials were found at higher pH reaching a maximum of +10 mV at pH 9.1. Zeta potentials for dead, but non-acidified Synechococcus sp. remained negative at -30 mV from an initial pH of 5.6 to 10.5, reflecting differences in cell wall structure between these species. These results indicate that Planktothrix sp. and Synechococcus sp. may metabolically control their surface charge to electrostatically attract bicarbonate anions at alkaline pH, required for photosynthesis.     

Potentiometric Determination of Acids and Bases using Silicone Rubber Based Graphite Electrode

Abstract

A silicone rubber based graphite electrode has been used as an indicator electrode for potentiometric acid-base titrations. The electrode potential changes an average of 30 mV per pH-unit. If the electrodes are pretreated with a solution of an oxidant before use, the pH-sensitivity is increased. The electrode can be used in both aqueous and non-aqueous solutions. A measuring cell, composed of a silicone rubber based graphite electrode of small surface area and a chloride-selective reference electrode, can be used for acid-base titrations in the micro range.     

Simple PVC–PPy electrode for pH measurement and titrations

Cobaltabis(dicarbollide) [3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H11)](-)-doped polypyrrole (PPy) films have been prepared galvanostatically on glassy carbon electrodes in acetonitrile solution. The potential response behavior of the film of this new material has been investigated in some common pH buffers and in acid-base titrations. The potentiometric characteristics of the resulting films are indicative of a quasi-Nernstian response (approximately 50 mV/pH unit), a linearity range from pH 12 to 3 and correlation coefficients (r2) of approximately 0.98. The electrode is suitable for pH measurements and for monoprotic titrations of strong alkalis with strong acids, and weak bases with strong acids, but the long response time hinders the use of this electrode for multiprotic titrations. The time response has been dramatically improved by reducing the film thickness by using the template effect of a non-conducting polymer (PVC) cast over the graphite surface before PPy deposition. PPy polymerization occurs in the free channels of PVC leading to the formation of PPy wires. The morphological change of PPy does not affect the slope or linearity range. The response of the PVC-PPy electrochemical sensor is rapid and the sensor is easy to prepare, at low cost, and its performance is comparable with that of commercial glass electrodes.     

Construction of a permanganate ion-selective electrode and its application to potentiometric titrations

The construction of a liquid-membrane type permanganate ion-selective electrode and its application to potentiometric titrations are described. The benzylcetyldimethylammonium-permanganate ion-pair in the aqueous phase is easily extracted into nitrobenzene and the extract is employed as the liquid ion-exchange membrane of the ion-selective electrode. The electrode gives Nernstian response to permanganate in the concentration range from 10(-6) to 10(-1)M, and the potential is almost independent of pH over the range from 3.0 to 10.5. The electrode can be used as indicator electrode in potentiometric titrations with permanganate.     

Spectrophotometric determination of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) using copper(II)-neocuproine reagent

A coated graphite-epoxy ion-selective electrode for bismuth(III), based on the ion-pair between the [Bi(EDTA)](-) anion and tricaprylylmethylammonium cation (Aliquat 336S) incorporated onto a poly(vinylchloride) (PVC) matrix is constructed. A thin membrane film of this ion-pair, dibutylphthalate (DBPh) or ortho-nitrophenyloctylether (o-NPOE) in PVC was deposited directly onto a Perspex(R) tube which contained a graphite-epoxy conductor substrate attached to the end of a glass tube. The coating solution was prepared by dissolving 30% (w/w) of PVC in 10 ml of tetrahydrofuran following addition of 65% (w/w) DBPh or o-NPOE and 5% (w/w) of the ionic pair. The effect of pH, EDTA concentration and some cation and anion on the electrode response is investigated. The bismuth(III) ion-selective electrode shows a linear response in the bismuth(III) concentration range from 1.0 x 10(-8) to 1.0 x 10(-1) mol 1(-1) and 1.0 x 10(-7) to 1.0 x 10(-1) mol 1(-1) and a slope of 56.8 and 59.2 mV dec.(-1) for the polymeric membranes containing DBPh and o-NPOE, respectively. The lifetime of this electrode was superior to 1 year (over 1600 determinations for each polymeric membrane), with practical detection limits of 6.3 x 10(-9) and 4.4 x 10(-8) mol 1(-1) with these plasticizers. Application of this electrode with bismuth(III) determination in a stomach anti-acid sample is described.     

Development of pH measurement system for legal traceability of pH standard solutions

The best reproducible technology of pH measurement for precise pH buffer solutions regulated by Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) was studied. A pH meter was devised with a high resolution of +/- 0.0001 pH. An 18-bit analog-to-digital converter is used, one-bit resolution corresponding to 0.0019 mV (ca. 0.000032 pH) against an input electrode potential +/- 500 mV. Digital data were treated smoothly for some types of noise, a reproducibility of +/- 0.0002 pH being obtained with a potentiometer. A flow cell was devised to attain temperature control within +/- 0.03 degrees C and air-tight measurement prevented contamination with carbon dioxide. Also, the flow cell has a structure such that potassium chloride (KCl) inner solution effused from a ceramic junction of the reference electrode designed so as not to touch the glass membrane. A combination pH electrode (a glass electrode and a reference electrode) was assembled to minimize the dead volume of sample solution. This highly sensitive pH measuring system, consisting of a pH meter, a flow cell, a combination pH electrode, a circulating water thermostat and a peristaltic pump, was used for the certification of pH standard solutions in Japanese metrological law. The performance of this system was within +/- 0.0006 pH reproducibility and 20-30 min response time (5 min within +/- 0.0002 pH) at a sample flow rate of 3 ml min (-1).     

Organic-inorganic composite cation-exchanger: poly-o-toluidine Zr(IV) phosphate-based ion-selective membrane electrode for the potentiometric determination of mercury

A new heterogeneous precipitate of an organic-inorganic composite cation-exchanger poly-o-toluidine Zr(IV) phosphate was utilized for the preparation of a Hg(II) ion-sensitive membrane electrode for the determination of Hg(II) ions in real aqueous as well as in real samples. The electrode showed good potentiometric response characteristics, and displayed a linear log[Hg(2+)] versus EMF response over a wide concentration range of 1 x 10(-1) - 1 x 10(-6) M with a Nernstian slope of 30 mV per decade change in concentration with a detection limit of 1 x 10(-6). The membrane electrode showed a very fast response time of 5 s and could be operated well in the pH range 2 - 8. The selectivity coefficients were determined by the mixed-solution method, and revealed that the electrode was selective in the presence of interfering cations; however most of these did not show significant interference in the concentration range of 1 x 10(-1) - 1 x 10(-4) M. The lifetime of the membrane electrode was observed to be 120 days. The analytical utility of this electrode was established by employing it as an indicator electrode in the potentiometric titrations of Hg(2+) ions from a synthetic mixture as well as drain water.     

Natural monocrystalline pyrite as electrode material for potentiometric titrations in water

The possibility of applying natural monocrystalline pyrite as sensor for the potentiometric titration of acids in water was investigated. The potential of this electrode in aqueous solutions exhibits a sub-Nernst dependence. In fresh solutions the slope (mV/pH) is 33.9. The potential jumps at the titration end-point obtained in titrations of HCl, H(3)PO(4) and CH(3) COOH do not differ much from those obtained by the application of the glass electrode as the indicator one. The potentials in the course of the titration and at the titration end-point (TEP) are rapidly established. The results obtained in the determination of the investigated acids deviated for 0.16-0.34% with respect to those obtained by using the glass electrode as the indicator one.     

A Simple Sensor for Potentiometric Titrations

Abstract

A sensor for potentiometric titrations was prepared by coating a spectroscopic graphite rod with a solution of poly(vinyl chloride) and dioctylphthalate in tetrahydrofuran. The reference was a Ag/AgCl single-junction electrode. The sensor was used in the following potentiometric titrations:

1. precipitation titrations 2. acid-base titrations, 3. compleximetric titrations, and 4. redox titrations.

A survey of its use in such titrations is presented.

Preparation of the coated-graphite sensor is simple and rapid. Moreover, it is quite inexpensive. A limitation is its applicability in aqueous media only, because organic solvents will dissolve the membrane.     

Liquid-liquid interfaces as potentiometric ion-sensors-I The n-butanol-water interface as indicating sensor for the potentiometric titration of some acids and bases

The property that liquid-liquid interfaces modify their electrical charge as a function of the composition of the two phases in contact has been used to detect the end-points in a series of acid-base titrations in the aqueous phase. Although the titration curves are not classical in shape, the equivalence points can be located if the solutions are not too dilute. Good results for concentrations down to 10(-3)N have been obtained. The electrode has a fast response. The influence of surface-active substances on the titration has also been investigated.     

Novel PVC membrane-based thoron ion selective electrode and its application: determination of zirconium

The construction, electrochemical evaluation and application of new electrode selective to the thoron reagent are reported. The electrode incorporates bathophenanthroline iron: thoron ion pair as electroactive sensing material, o-nitrophenyl octyl ether as plasticizer and PVC as support matrix, exhibits a Nernstian response to thoron with a slope of -29.7+/-1 mV per decade in a range of concentration from 1.0x10(-6) to 5.0x10(-2) mol L(-1), a detection limit of 6.0x10(-7) mol L(-1) and fast response time of less than 30 s. The proposed electrode is successfully applied to zirconium ion determination in aqueous samples using indirect potentiometry and the results obtained are compared with those provided by spectrophotometric analysis using thoron as complexing agent.     

Bis(2-hydroxyacetophenone)ethylenediimine as a neutral carrier in a coated-wire membrane electrode for lead(II).

A coated-wire ion-selective electrode (CWISE), based on a Schiff base as a neutral carrier, was successfully developed for the detection of Pb(II) in aqueous solution. CWISE exhibited a linear response with a Nernstian slope of 29.4 +/- 0.5 mV/decade within the concentration range of 1.0 x 10(-5) - 1.0 x 10(-1) M lead ion. CWISE has shown detection limits of 5.0 x 10(-6) M. The electrode exhibited good selectivity over a number of alkali, alkaline earth, transition and heavy metal ions. This sensor yielded a steady potential within 10 to 20 s at a linear dynamic range. The electrode was suitable for use in aqueous solutions in a pH range of 2.0 to 5.0. Applications of this electrode for the determination of lead in real samples and as indicator electrode for potentiometric titration of Pb2+ ion using K2CrO4 are reported.     

PVC matrix membrane sensor for potentiometric determination of cetylpyridinium chloride.

A novel cetylpyridinium chloride-selective membrane sensor consisting of cetylpyridinium-ferric thiocyanate ion pairs dispersed in a PVC matrix placticized with dioctylphthalate is described. The electrode shows a stable, near-Nernstian response for 1 x 10(-3)-1 x 10(-6) mol l-1 cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) at 25 degrees C over the pH range 1-6 with a cationic slope of 57.5 +/- 0.4. The lower detection limit is 8 x 10(-7) mol l-1 and the response time is 30-60 s. Selectivity coefficients for CPC relative to a number of interfering substances were investigated. There is negligible interference from many cations, anions and pharmaceutical excipients; however, cetyltrimethylammonim bromide (CTMAB) interfered significantly. The determination of 0.5-350 micrograms/ml of CPC in aqueous solutions shows an average recovery of 98.5% and a mean relative standard deviation of 1.6% at 56.0 micrograms/ml. The direct determination of CPC in Ezafluor mouthwash gave results that compare favorably with those obtained by the British Pharmacopoeia method. Precipitation titrations involving CPC as titrant are monitored with a CP sensor. The CP electrode has been utilized as an end point indicator electrode for the determination of anionic surfactants in some commercial detergents.     

Fabrication of PVC based membrane using nickel porphyrazine as ionophore in the screening of thiocyanate ion in aqueous and real samples

The [Ni[(TAP)(SBn)8]] complex (I), i.e. ([2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octakis(benzylthio)-5,10,15,20-tetraazaporphyrin])nickel(II), has been explored as an ionophore for fabrication of the PVC based membrane electrodes used in the screening of thiocyanate anion (SCN-). The membrane having [Ni[(TAP)(SBn)8]] complex (I) as an electroactive material and dioctylphthalate (DOP) as plasticizer in the PVC matrix with the percentage ratio 5 : 158 : 200 (I : DOP : PVC, % w/w) exhibited a linear response in the concentration range 7.0 x 10(-6)-1.0 x 10(-1) M of SCN- with a sub-Nernstian slope 32.5 +/- 0.2 mV/decade of activity and a fast response time of 10 +/- 2 s. The sensor works well in the pH range 3.0 - 9.5 and could be satisfactorily used in presence of 50 % (v/v) methanol, ethanol and acetone, and is selective for SCN- over a large number of anions with slight interference from iodide (I-) and azide (N3-) if present at a level >or = 1.0 x 10(-5) M. Described electrode works well over a period of six months. The sensor can be successfully applied for the screening of SCN- in both aqueous and real samples and also as indicator electrodes in precipitation titrations.     

Palladium metal electrode and its analytical application to precipitation and acid–base analysis in aqueous and non-aqueous media

Electrochemical characterization of palladium electrode has been reported. The investigated electrode showed a linear dynamic response for p-toluensulfonic acid and iodide ions in the concentrations range between 5?×?10^?1 and 1?×?10^?5 mol L^?1 with a Nernstian slope of 55 mV for p-toluensulfonic acid and 63 mV per decade for iodide ions in water, as well as 53 mV for p-toluensulfonic acid and 51 mV per decade for iodide ions in dioxane. The response time of the electrodes was less than 10 s in the used solvents. Some potential analytical applications of the sensors have been pointed. Palladium electrode for the potentiometric titrations of acids (citric, barbituric, and p-toluensulfonic acid), bases (N,N’-diphenylguanidine, tributylamine, and 2,2'–bipyridine), halides, and some real samples in aqueous and non-aqueous solutions were studied. Тetrabutylammonium hydroxide, perchloric acid, and silver nitrate proved to be very suitable titrating agents for these titrations. The standard deviation of the determination of the investigated compounds was less than 0.9 % from those obtained with a glass electrode, i.e., silver electrode.     

Electrochemically triggered Michael addition on the self-assembly of 4-thiouracil: generation of surface-confined redox mediator and electrocatalysis

Generation of a surface-confined redox mediator (RM) by an electrochemically triggered Michael addition reaction and the electrocatalytic properties of the mediator are described. Electrogenerated o-quinone undergoes Michael addition reaction with the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of 4-thiouracil (4-TU) on a gold (Au) electrode and yields a surface-confined RM, 1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4-mercapto-1H-pyrimidin-2-one (DPTU). The Michael addition reaction depends on the electrolysis potential and time, solution pH, and concentration of catechol (CA) used in the reaction. The redox mediator, DPTU, exhibits reversible redox response, characterstic of a surface-confined species at approximately 0.22 V in neutral pH. The anodic peak potential of DPTU shifts by 58+/-2 mV while changing the solution pH by one unit, suggesting that protons and electrons taking part in the redox reaction are in the ratio of 1:1. The apparent rate constant (ksapp) for the heterogeneous electron-transfer reaction of the RM was determined to be 114+/-5 s-1. The surface coverage (Gamma) of DPTU on the electrode surface was 8.2+/-0.1x10(-12) mol/cm2. DPTU shows excellent electrocatalytic activity toward oxidation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) with activation overpotential, which is approximately 600 mV lower than that observed at the unmodified Au electrode. The dipositive cations in the supporting electrolyte solution amplify the electrocatalytic activity of DPTU. A 2.5-fold enhancement in the catalytic current was observed in the presence of Ca2+ or Ba2+ ions. The sensitivity of the electrode toward NADH in the presence and absence of Ca2+ ions was 0.094+/-0.011 and 0.04+/-0.0071 nA cm-2 nM-1, respectively. A linear increase in the catalytic current was obtained up to the concentration of 0.8 mM, and the electrode can detect amperometrically as low as 25 nM of NADH in neutral pH.     

Electrochemical investigation of acid-base properties of ordered liquid systems

Acid-base properties of ordered media were investigated via potentiometry, polarography and electrochemical probes. Electrochemical probes have a pH-dependent reduction potential and their oxidized and reduced forms have a different affinity for aqueous and organic phases. Solutions of anionic, cationic and nonionic surfactants were investigated. One anionic and one cationic surfactant stabilized emulsion were studied. A water-dodecane-pentanol-anionic surfactant microemulsion and a water-heptane-butanol-cationic surfactant were also investigated for several compositions. In micellar solutions and emulsions, it was possible to standardize and use the classical glass electrode for pH values in the range 1-12. The hydrogen electrode was required in the microemulsion systems. The reduction of electrochemical probes was studied by polarography. It is shown that in the ordered media studied, the aqueous phase played the most important role in micellar solutions and in O/W emulsions, as far as acid-base properties were concerned. In microemulsions, the acid-base properties of the aqueous phase were very different to those of water. The alizarin probe could be reduced at a "local" pH of about 12 when the aqueous phase pH was only 6.     

Flow injection analysis of sulfite ion with a potentiometric titanium phosphate-epoxy based membrane sensor

A novel pH sensor suitable for use in both aqueous and non-aqueous mediums is reported. The sensor is derived from polymer modified electrode obtained from electrochemical polymerisation of aniline in dry acetonitrile containing 0.5 M tetraphenyl borate at 2.0 V versus Ag/AgCl. The light yellow colour polymer modified electrode obtained under the present experimental condition has been characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The pH sensing of polymer modified electrode in both aqueous and non-aqueous mediums is examined and reported. As the typical examples, we used weak acid (acetic acid) and weak base (ammonium hydroxide) as analytes. The acetic acid is analysed in both aqueous and dry acetonitrile whereas ammonium hydroxide is analysed only in aqueous medium. The analysis in aqueous medium is conducted in 1 mM Tris-HCl buffer pH 7.0 and also in 0.1 M KCl. The slope of pH sensing is calculated from the data recorded in typical buffers and found to be approximately 86 mV per pH. The application of polymer modified electrode for the construction of urea biosensor is described based on immobilised urease within poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix and also within organically modified sol-gel glass on the surface of polymer-modified electrode. The new urea sensor has shown maximum response of 160 mV at 25 degrees C with a lowest detection limit of 20 muM. The performance of new pH sensor and urea sensor has been studied and reported in this communication.