Symmetrical electrochemical cell for determination of coextraction constants of metal salts for ion-selective polymeric membranes

A symmetrical electrochemical cell has been developed to perform cyclic voltammetric study of a plasticised poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane. The plasticised PVC membrane of ca. 100 μm thickness was mounted in a specially laboratory-made electrochemical cell for voltammetric analysis on exposure to various sodium salt and metal chloride solutions. Symmetrical cyclic voltammograms were obtained when the sample and internal solutions contained same kind of metal salts. The coextraction constant of a metal salt for the plasticised PVC could be determined from either the positive or negative potential scans of a cyclic voltammetry. In addition, two coextraction constants could also be simultaneously obtained when the membrane was exposed to two different metal salts in the sample and internal solutions, respectively. It was observed that the more lipophilic of the cations or anions, the larger the coextraction constants of these ions for the plasticised PVC membrane. The results followed the Hofmeister sequence of ClO₄⁻>NO₃⁻>Br⁻>Cl⁻>OAc⁻ for anions and the ease of extraction of cations was in the order of Cs⁺>K⁺>Na⁺>Li⁺. The proposed method provides a simpler, faster and more convenient method to obtain the coextraction constants of metal salts for plasticised polymeric membranes.     

A preparation of a single-layered enzyme-membrane using asymmetric pBPPO base film for development of pesticide detecting biosensor

A novel single-layered enzyme-membrane using BPPO film which was pore-filled with cross-linked PVA containing TYR was prepared to develop a pesticide biosensor with an increased stability. The prepared enzyme-membrane was assembled on a glassy carbon electrode to detect pesticides. The voltammetric measurements revealed a coupled reaction, an enzymatic oxidation and an electrochemical reduction of catechol transported through the prepared membrane. A detection range of parathion and carbaryl was 0.01–1 ppb and 0.01–10 ppb, respectively. The activity in the enzyme-membrane was maintained for 1 month due to favorable aqueous environment of PVA for enzyme activity while BPPO film provided structural stability.     

A salicylate ion-selective membrane electrode based on aliquat 336s and the assay of acetylsalicylic acid

The construction and the general performance of a salicylate ion-selective PVC membrane electrode based on Aliquat 336S are described. The electrode is applied for the assay of aspirin in tablets after hydrolysis of acetylsalicylic acid to salicylate. The method has the advantage of simplicity and speed compared to standard procedures.     

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.     

Response properties,applications and limitations of carbonate-selective polymer membrane electrodes

The preparation and response characteristics of a carbonate-selective polymer membrane electrode are reported. The electrode is prepared by incorporating Aliquat 336, trifluoroacetyl-p-butylbenzene and di-2-ethylhexyl sebacate or dioctyl phthalate in a poly(vinylchloride) membrane matrix. The effect of membrane composition and electrode response in various buffer systems are examined. Under buffer conditions appropriate for practical measurements, potentiometric data yield the following selectivity pattern: ClO₄^- = salicylate > total carbon dioxide species > I^- > NO₃^- > acetate > Cl^- > Br^-. The electrode can be readily fabricated in tubular form and utilized within a very simple flow-injection arrangement to determine total carbon dioxide species. The possible applications of the electrode to serum CO₂ measurements as well as within newly devised gas-sensing arrangements for dissolved CO₂ are also examined.     

Surfactant-sensitive polymeric membrane electrodes

The development and testing is described of surfactant-sensitive electrodes in which the active element is a plasticised polymeric membrane containing a dissolved complex of a cationic and anionic surfactant. Electrodes made with poly(vinyl chloride) membranes plasticised with 40–60% tricresyl phosphate and containing cetyl trimethylammonium dodecyl sulphate are reasonably satisfactory for determining sodium dodecyl sulphate activities below and above the critical micelle concentration. A new class of membrane electrodes has been introduced in which ion-exchange groups are chemically bound to the ends of the poly(vinyl chloride) chains either through the use of an amine as chain transfer agent during polymerisation or by using the SO₃^? radical-anion as polymerisation initiator. The resulting electrodes are specific to anionic or to cationic surfactants but selectivity between different surfactants of the same charge sign is not high. The electrode lifetimes in micellar solutions are much higher than those of previously described electrodes because the electroactive material cannot be lost by solubilisation.     

Stability Enhancement of All‐Solid‐State H+ ISEs with Cross‐Linked Silicon‐Urethane Matrices

An all‐solid‐state hydrogen‐ion‐selective electrode (ASHISE) was fabricated using the polymer hybrid membrane. Polymer membranes composed of Tecoflex polyurethane (TPU), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), silicon rubber (SR), and additives (KTpClPB, DOA, and TDDA) were cast on a carbon rod. The TPU/SR hybrid membrane exhibited a longer lifetime and a higher sensitivity in the sensing of the H⁺ ion compared to conventional TPU/PVC and PVC/SR hybrid membranes. Moreover, the addition of SiCl₄ to TPU‐based matrices enhanced the potentiometric response and ISE stability, due to the chemical bonding between Si and C?O in urethane, in which the cross‐linking configuration was confirmed by DSC, FT‐IR, and XPS experiments. TPU/SR membranes containing SiCl₄ were rendered more stable and showed a pH response over a wide range (i.e., pH 2–11.5) with the slope of 60±2 mV/pH for more than four months. The ASHISE exhibited a small interfering potential variation in the wide range of the salt concentration (from 1.0×10^?6 M up to 0.1 M). The ASHISE showed a result comparable to a commercial clinical blood analyzer.     

Preparation of surfactant anion-selective electrodes with different selectivity coefficients and a trial to determine each component in binary surfactant mixtures

Functional membrane electrodes with different charge densities were prepared from partly cationic poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and a plasticizer. The modified PVC polymers were synthesized by the co-polymerization of vinyl chloride (VC) and 3-acrylamido-N,N-dimethylpropylamine (ADPA) in different ratios followed by alkylation of the amine segments with methyl iodide. These membrane electrodes showed a nearly Nernstian response to sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) below the critical micelle concentration (CMC). In mixtures of SDS and other surfactants, the electrode response was examined and the selectivity coefficient K for the added surfactant was determined. The charge density of the functional membrane altered K; the greater the charge density of the membrane, the greater the value of K. Two membrane electrodes with different K were used to determine the concentration of each component in a binary surfactant mixture. They determined the concentration of the primary surfactant with reasonable accuracy, but the error in determining the concentration of the secondary surfactant was great. The error analysis indicated that a large difference in K for two electrodes is necessary to determine the concentrations of both components in binary surfactant mixtures with reasonable accuracy.     

New Urea Biosensor Based on Urease Enzyme Obtained from Helycobacter pylori

The urease enzyme of Helicobacter pylori was isolated from biopsy sample obtained from antrum big curvature cell extracts. A new urea biosensor was prepared by immobilizing urease enzyme isolated from Helicobacter pylori on poly(vinylchloride) (PVC) ammonium membrane electrode by using nonactine as an ammonium ionophore. The effect of pH, buffer concentration, and temperature for the biosensor prepared with urease from H. pylori were obtained as 6.0, 5 mM, and 25 °C, respectively. We also investigated urease concentration, stirring rate, and enzyme immobilization procedures in response to urea of the enzyme electrode. The linear working range of the biosensor extends from 1 × 10(-5) to 1 × 10(-2) M and they showed an apparent Nernstian response within this range. Urea enzyme electrodes prepared with urease enzymes obtained from H. pylori and Jack bean based on PVC membrane ammonium-selective electrode showed very good analytical parameters: high sensitivity, dynamic stability over 2 months with less decrease of sensitivity, response time 1-2 min. The analytical characteristics were investigated and were compared those of the urea biosensor prepared with urease enzyme isolated from Jack bean prepared at the same conditions. It was observed that rapid determinations of human serum urea amounts were also made possible with both biosensors.     

Zn(II)‐Selective Membrane Electrode Based on Tetraazamacrocycle [Bzo2Me2Ph2(16)hexaeneN4]

A PVC membrane electrode using [Bzo₂Me₂Ph₂(16)hexaeneN₄] ( I ) as ionophore, oleic acid as lipophilic additive and o‐nitrophenyloctyl ether as plasticizer has been investigated as Zn(II)‐selective electrode. The membrane incorporating 34.9% (w/w) PVC, 2.3% I , 4.7% OA and 58.1% o‐NPOE gave linear response over the concentration range 2.82×10^?6?1.0×10^?1 M with a Nernstian slope of 28.5±0.2 mV/decade of concentration with a detection limit of 2.24×10^?6 M (0.146 ppm) and showed a response time of less than 10 s and could be used in pH range 2.5–8.5. High selectivity was obtained over a wide variety of metal ions. The proposed electrode was successfully used as an indicator electrode in potentiometric titration of zinc ions with EDTA and for determination of zinc in real samples.     

Reversible electrochemical oxidation of (CH)x films

Thallium(I)-selective PVC membrane electrodes based on bis(crown ether)s containing benzo-15-crown-5 moiety were prepared, using o-nitrophenyloctylether(NPOE) or dipentylphthalate(DPP) as the plasticizer of the PVC membrane. Selectivity coefficients for various alkali and alkaline earth metal ions, k_TIM, were sufficiently small, and were compared with those of the corresponding monocyclic analog and valinomycin. These electrodes show excellent electrode properties, and the electrode response was stable in a wide pH range.     

The Role of Internal Droplet Size on Emulsion Stability and the Extraction Performance of Kraft Lignin Removal from Pulping Wastewater in Emulsion Liquid Membrane Process

It has been discovered that the size of internal droplets in primary emulsion determines emulsion dispersion and stability in emulsion liquid membrane (ELM) process for removal of lignin from pulping wastewater. Generally, primary emulsion contains kerosene, Aliquat 336, sodium bicarbonate, as well as Span 80 as diluent, carrier, internal phase, and surfactant, respectively. Hence, this study had looked into the parameters, including concentration of surfactant, carrier, and stripping agent; emulsification speed and time; as well as agitation speed and time. As a result, the diameter of the smallest droplets (1.4 µm) was formed with maximum lignin extraction (95%), minimum swelling (5%) at 3% (w/v) surfactant concentration, 12,000 rpm of emulsification within 5 minutes, 0.01 M of Aliquat 336, 0.1 M of NaHCO_3, and 250 rpm of extraction within 10 minutes.     

Construction and Evaluation of a Promazinium Cation-Selective Electrode

 The construction of a plasticised PVC matrix-type promazinium cation-selective membrane electrode and its use in the potentiometric determination of promazine hydrochloride in pharmaceutical preparations are described. It is based on the use of the ion-associate species, formed by promazinium cation and tetraphenylborate (TPB) counter ion. The basic electrode performance characteristics are evaluated according to IUPAC recommendations. It exhibited a linear response for 1 × 10⁻²−1 × 10⁻⁵ M of promazine hydrochloride solutions with a cationic Nernstian slope over the pH range 2–6. Common organic and inorganic cations showed negligible interference. Direct potentiometric determination of 1 × 10⁻²−1 × 10⁻⁵ M aqueous promazine hydrochloride using this membrane electrode system showed an average recovery of 99.5% with a mean standard deviation of 1.5%. This electrode was successfully used for monitoring the titration of promazine hydrochloride with sodium tetraphenyl borate and for determining promazine hydrochloride in ampoules. Received June 15, 2001 Revision November 6, 2001     

Lifetime Improvement of Glucose Biosensor by Epoxy‐Enhanced PVC Membrane

A new approach using epoxy resin to enhance the durability and adhesion of a diffusion‐limiting membrane in amperometric biosensors is described. The polymer membrane was mainly composed of commercially available fast epoxy adhesive ATACS 5104, poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and plasticizers such as isopropyl myristate (IMP) and Aliquat 336 (AL). It can be readily deposited on various substrates by using coating and other thin film fabrication methods. The effect of epoxy resin in the membrane composition was investigated using a coil‐type glucose biosensor containing extra enzyme. The ideal membrane was found to include approximately 1/3 epoxy resin, 1/3 plasticizer and 1/3 PVC. Such a membrane was verified to be porous and permeable to small molecules like glucose and can tightly adhere to other beneath layers such as a Nafion membrane, which serves as the interference‐eliminating layer. These epoxy‐based glucose biosensors showed excellent electrochemical response properties including a long lifetime and can be used for microanalysis of solutions and biological fluids. With an additional PU outermost layer, the present glucose biosensors can potentially be used for in vivo measurements.     

Flexible Ultrathin PolyDVB/EVB Composite Membranes for the Optimization of a Whole Blood Glucose Sensor

An ultrathin composite membrane has been developed as the outer covering barrier in a model amperometric glucose oxidase enzyme electrode. The membrane was formed by cathodic electropolymerization of divinylbenzene/ethylvinylbenzene at the surface of a gold coated polyester support membrane. Permeability coefficients were determined for O₂ and glucose across membranes with a range of polymer thicknesses. Anionic interferents (such as ascorbate), were screened from the working electrode via a charge exclusion mechanism. The enzyme electrode showed an initial 10% signal drift when first exposed to whole human blood over a period of 2 hours, after which responses remained essentially stable. Whole blood patient glucose determinations yielded a correlation coefficient of r²=0.99 compared to standard hospital analyses.     

A highly selective thallium(I) electrode based on a thia substituted macrocyclic ionophore

A new highly Tl(I)-selective PVC membrane electrode based on tetrathia macrocycle 6,7: 14,15-dibenzo-5,8,13,16-tetraoxo-1,4,9,12-tetrathiacyclohexadecane [Bz₂O₄(16)aneS₄] (I) as membrane carrier, o-nitrophenyloctyl ether (o-NPOE) as solvent mediator and potassium tetrakis(p-chlorophenyl)borate (KTpClPB) as lipophilic additive has been developed. The best performance was given by the membrane of macrocycle (I) with composition 3:120:1.5:50 (I:o-NPOE:KTpClPB:PVC). This electrode exhibits a Nernstian response to Tl(I) ions in the concentration range 1.0 × 10⁻¹-2.23 × 10⁻⁶ M with a slope of 58.2 mV/decade of concentration and a detection limit of 1.58 × 10⁻⁶ M. The response time of the sensor is 12 s and can be used over a period of 4 months with good reproducibility. The proposed electrode revealed good selectivity over a wide variety of other cations including alkali, alkaline earth, heavy and transition metals. The electrode works well over a pH range of 3.2-11.5 and in partially non-aqueous medium with up to 30% organic content. The sensor was also used as an indicator electrode in potentiometric titration of Tl(I) ions with KI solution.     

Studies on transport mechanism of Cr(VI) extraction from an acidic solution using liquid surfactant membranes

A mathematical model for analysing the extraction of Cr(VI) from aqueous acidic solution by emulsion liquid membrane using Aliquat 336 as extractant and NaOH as stripping agent has been presented. The existing models developed so far do not account for the existence of different forms of Cr(VI) ions in the aqueous phase depending on pH conditions. Accordingly, in the present model, reaction equilibrium has been considered instead of distribution coefficient to represent realistically the transport mechanism for this type of system through liquid surfactant membrane. Unlike other models, liquid–liquid equilibrium of sodium hydroxide-chloride of Aliquat 336 has also been considered. The carrier thus exists in the membrane phase in hydroxide and chloride forms and extraction of hexavalent chromium from the external phase proceeds by the two carriers. The validity of the model has been checked from comparison of the simulated curves and experimental data using chemical reaction equilibrium constant and D_eff/R² as fitting parameters.     

Separation of α-amylase by reversed micellar extraction effect of solvent type and cosolvent concentration on the transfer process

The recovery of α-amylase from the crude enzyme preparation by the reversed micellar liquid-liquid extraction was investigated. The reversed micellar solution was formed by dissolving a cationic surfactant Aliquat 336 in six different alkanes (cyclohexane, n-hexane, isooctane, n-octane, n-decane, and n-dodecane) respectively with addition of a cosolvent n-octanol. It was found that a minimal quantity of noctanol was needed for Aliquat 336 to dissolve in apolar solvent and form reversed micelles. Furthermore, this minimal amount of n-octanol needed was found to be different when Aliquat 336 was dissolved in different alkanes. It tended to increase with the number of carbon atoms in alkane and also depended on the solvent structure. During the forward extraction process, it was revealed that a high value of solubilization of protein in Aliquat 336 reversed micelles could be achieved when four out of the six alkanes (cyclohexane, n-hexane, isooctane, noctane) were used as the solvent for Aliquat 336. After a full forward and backward extraction cycle, however, a high recovery of both the protein mass and a-amylase activity in the stripping solution could be obtained only when two out of the six alkanes (n-hexane and isooctane) were used as the solvent for Aliquat 336. When n-hexane and isooctane were used as the solvent for Aliquat 336, up to 80% of the total α-amylase activity in the crude enzyme preparation could be recovered at the end of extraction cycle, meanwhile α-amylase could be concentrated about 1.4-fold. In the cases of other four alkanes (cyclohexane, n-octane, n-decane, and n-dodecane) as solvent, most of the α-amylase activity in the crude enzyme preparation would be denatured after an extraction cycle.     

Effect of Plasticizer on the Performance of the Surfactant-Selective Electrode Based on a Poly(Vinyl Chloride) Membrane with no Added Ion-Exchanger

The effect of different plasticizers in the sensing membrane on the performance of a surfactant ISE based on a PVC membrane with no added ion-exchanger was investigated. o-nitrophenyl octyl ether (NPOE), o-nitrophenyl decyl ether (NPDE), o-nitrophenyl dodecyl ether (NPDOE) and o-nitrophenyl tetradecyl ether (NPTE) were used as plasticizers. Electrodes based on NPDE, NPDOE and NPTE produced better results than NPOE-plasticized PVC membrane electrodes in terms of low detection limits. Electrodes based on NPDE, NPDOE and NPTE displayed a Nernstian slope in the concentration range of 10^–6 to 10^–2M. NPOE-plasticized PVC membrane electrodes displayed a Nernstian slope in the concentration range of 10^–5 to 10^–2M. The three electrodes other than the NPOE-plasticized PVC membrane electrode showed a similar performance to that of the NPOE-plasticized PVC membrane electrode concerning low detection limits and slope sensitivity. The four electrodes examined in this study are excellently selective for the dodecyltrimethylammonium ion over inorganic anions, but interference from other cationic surfactants such as tetradecyltrimethylammonium ions is significant. With respect to slope sensitivity, selectivity, response time and pH effect, the four electrodes showed a similar performance.     

Glucose enzyme electrode with extended linearity: Application to undiluted blood measurements

An enzyme electrodes is described for glucose determination in unstirred, undiluted whole blood. The system comprises an H₂O₂-detecting electrode upon which is placed a membrane laminate incorporating glucose oxidase. The external membrane was pretreated with methyltrichlorosilane. The electrode response was linearly dependent on glucose concentration up to 50 mmol l^?1 glucose, it had a decreased dependence on dissolved oxygen concentrations and gave response times of 30–90 s. Whole blood glucose measurements correlated well with a routine spectrophotometric method.