Interactions of mercury(II), lead(II), calcium(II), aluminium(III) or ferric(III) nitrate with single and double chain linear alkylbenzenesulfonates in aqueous and sea-water media

The solubility products of mercury(II) and lead(II) dodecylbenzenesulfonates were calculated on the basis of light scattering measurements at 20°C to be (9.33 ± 0.90) × 10⁻¹³ and (1.03 ± 0.10) × 10⁻¹² respectively. The investigations of precipitation phenomena performed in diluted natural sea-water ([Cl⁻] = 10⁻¹² mol dm ⁻³), including tenside and added heavy metal ions, showed similar behaviour for all metal dodecylbenzenesulfonates investigated in this work, i.e. the synergistic effect of tenside, of added electrolyte, and of cations and anions from sea-water. A comparison made by a statistical test of significance, chosen to measure agreement between the estimates of the solubility constants obtained in aqueous solutions and in the above mentioned sea-water solution, showed a noticeable effect, evident particularly in the case of mercury(II). The precipitation of tenside and metal nitrates in natural sea-water ([Cl⁻] = 5 × 10⁻¹ mol dm⁻³) covers a wide concentration region of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (from high concentrations to 5 × 10⁻⁶ mol dm⁻³) and from high metal nitrate concentrations to very low. The microscopic textures of phases precipitated in the systems with sea-water obviously confirmed favouring formation of the liquid crystalline phase.     

PVC membrane based potentiometric sensors for uranium determination

Two novel uranyl PVC matrix membrane sensors responsive to uranyl ion are described. The first sensor incorporates tris(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate (TEHP) as both electroactive material and plasticizer and sodium tetraphenylborate (NaTPB) as an ion discriminator. The sensor displays a rapid and linear response for UO₂²⁺ ions over the concentration range 1×10⁻¹–2×10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹ UO₂²⁺ with a cationic slope of 25.0±0.2 mV decade⁻¹. The working pH range is 2.8–3.6 and the life span is 4 weeks. The second sensor contains O-(1,2-dihydro-2-oxo-1-pyridyl)-N,N,N′,N′-bis(tetra-methylene)uronium hexafluorophosphate (TPTU) as a sensing material, sodium tetraphenylborate as an ion discriminator and dioctyl phenylphosphonate (DOPP) as a plasticizer. Linear and stable response for 1×10⁻¹–5×10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹ UO₂²⁺ with near-Nernstian slope of 27.5±0.2 mV decade⁻¹ are obtained. The working pH range is 2.5–3.5 and the life span of the sensor is 6 weeks. Interference from many inorganic cations is negligible for both sensors. However, interference caused by some ions (e.g. Th⁴⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺) is eliminated by a prior ion exchange or solvent extraction step. Direct potentiometric determination of as little as 5 μg ml⁻¹ uranium in aqueous solutions shows an average recovery of 97.2±1.3%. Application for the determination of uranium at levels of 0.01–1 wt.% in naturally occurring and certified ores gives results with good correlation with data obtained by X-ray fluorescence.     

End-column electrochemical detection for inorganic and organic species in high-voltage capillary electrophoresis

The electronics and construction for an end-column ultramicroelectrode (3–10 μm) detection system that permits the use of medium-sized capillaries (25 μm I.D.) without appreciable effects from the potential field at the end of the capillary. Normal peak-to-peak noise over 10 s was 0.01–0.1 pA. The background noise observed for a 200 × μm carbon-fiber electrode placed either 180 μm within a 25-μm capillary or at a point 500 μm away from the capillary was essentially the same. A study of detector response as a function of the position of the electrode has shown that accurate location of the electrode is important for sensitive and reproducible detection. These studies also showed that differences between the density of the electrolyte existing the capillary and the electrolyte in the detection cell could cause anomalous electrode response depending on the location of the electrode relative to the end of the capillary. Application of a carbon fiber or an Hg film electrode gave detection limits (twice the peak-to-peak noise over 10 s) of 2 · 10⁻⁸ mol/l for Pb²⁺, 1 · 10^{− 5} mol/l for NO₂⁻ and 5 · 10⁻¹⁰ mol/l for catechol.     

Cathodic adsorptive stripping voltammetric behaviour of guanine in the presence of copper at the static mercury drop electrode

The cathodic adsorptive electrochemical behavior of guanine in the presence of some metal ions at the static mercury drop electrode was investigated. A 1.0×10⁻³ mol l⁻¹ NaOH or a 2.0×10⁻² mol l⁻¹ Hepes buffer at pH 8.0 solutions were used as supporting electrolytes. The reduction peak potential for guanine was found to be around −0.15 V, which is very close to the mercury reduction wave. A new peak appears at −0.60 V in the presence of copper or at −1.05 V in the presence of zinc. A square wave voltammetric procedure for electroanalytical determination of guanine in 2.0×10⁻² mol l⁻¹ Hepes buffer at pH 8.0 containing 1.6×10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹of copper ions, was developed. An accumulation potential of −0.15 V during 270 s for the prior adsorption of guanine at the electrode surface was used. The response of the system was found to be linear in the range of guanine concentration from 6.62×10⁻⁸ to 1.32×10⁻⁷ mol l⁻¹ and the detection limit was 7.0×10⁻⁹ mol l⁻¹. The influence of DNA bases such as adenine, cytosine and thymine was also examined. Cyclic voltammetry was used to characterize the interfacial and redox mechanism.     

Lead ion selective PVC membrane electrode based on 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid)

A PVC membrane electrode for lead ions based on 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) as membrane carrier was prepared. The electrode exhibits a Nernstian response for Pb²⁺ over a wide concentration range (1.0×10⁻²–4.0×10⁻⁶ M). It has a relatively fast response time and can be used for at least 3 months without any divergence in potentials. The proposed electrode revealed good selectivities for Pb²⁺ over a wide variety of other metal ions and could be used in a pH range of 2.0–7.0. It was used as an indicator electrode in potentiometric titration of lead ions and in direct determination of lead in water samples.     

New aspects of the reaction of silver(I) cations with the ethylenediaminetetraacetate ion

The highly neutralized ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) titrant (95–99% as Y⁴⁻ anion) precipitates with Ag⁺ cations to form the Ag₄Y species, in aqueous medium, which is well characterized from conductometric titration, thermal analysis and potentiometric titration of the silver content of the solid. The precipitate dissolves in excess Y⁴⁻ to form a complex, AgY³⁻. Equilibrium studies at 25°C and ionic strength 0.50 M (NaNO₃) have shown from solubility and potentiometric measurements that the formation constant (95% confidence level) β₁ = (1.93 ± 0.07) × 10⁵ M⁻¹ and the solubility products are K_S0 = [Ag +]⁴[Y⁴⁻] = (9.0 ± 0.4) × 10⁻¹⁸ M⁵ and K_S1 = [Ag +]³[AgY³⁻] = (1.74 ± 0.08) × 10⁻¹² M⁴. The presence of Na⁺, rather than ionic strength, markedly affects the equilibrium; the data at ionic strength 0.10 M are: β₁ = (1.19 ± 0.03) × 10⁶ M⁻¹, K_S0 = (1.6 ± 0.4) × 10⁻¹⁹ M⁵ and K_S1 = (1.9 ± 0.5) × 10⁻¹³ M⁴; at ionic strength tending to zero; β₁ = (1.82 ± 0.05) × 10⁷ M⁻¹, K_S0 = (2.6 ± 0.8) × 10⁻²² M⁵ and K_S1 = (5 ± 1) × 10⁻¹⁵ M⁴. The intrinsic solubility is 2.03 mM silver (I) in 0.50 M NaNO₃. Well-defined potentiometric titration curves can be taken in the range 1–2 mM with the Ag indicator electrode. Thermal analysis revealed from differential scanning calorimetry a sharp exothermic peak at 142°C; thermal gravimetry/differential thermal gravimetry has shown mass loss due to silver formation and a brown residue, a water-soluble polymeric acid (decomposition range 135–157°C), tending to pure silver at 600°C, consistent with the original Ag₄Y salt.     

Determination of potassium ions in biodiesel using a nickel(II) hexacyanoferrate-modified electrode

In this work, nickel hexacyanoferrate-modified electrode was developed to determine potassium ions in biodiesel by potentiometry. The modified electrodes exhibit a linear response to potassium ions in the concentration range of 4.0 × 10⁻⁵ to 1.0 × 10⁻² mol L⁻¹, with a detection limit of 1.9 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹, and a near-Nernstian slope (53–55 mV per decade) at 25 °C. The method developed in this work was compared with flame photometry and the potassium concentration found in biodiesel showed that the modified electrode method gives results similar to those obtained by flame photometry.     

Iodide-selective carbon paste electrodes based on recently synthesized Schiff base complexes of Fe(III)

A new modified carbon paste electrode (CPE) based on a recently synthesized Schiff base complex of Fe(III) as a suitable carrier for I⁻ ion is described. The electrode exhibits a super Nernstian slope of 71.0±0.3 mV per decade for I⁻ ion over a wide concentration range from 1.0×10⁻⁶ to 5.0×10⁻¹ M, with a low detection limit of 6.5×10⁻⁷ M. It has a relatively fast response time, a satisfactory reproducibility and relatively long life time. The proposed sensor shows a fairly good selectivity toward I⁻ ion in comparison to other common anions. The potentiometric response is independent of the pH of the test solution in the pH range 3.5–10.0. Spectrophotometric studies confirmed the redox-type response mechanism of the electrode toward iodide ion. The proposed electrode was used as an indicator electrode in potentiometric titration of iodide ion.     

Measuring quaternary ammonium cleaning agents with ion selective electrodes

Data for coated-wire, ion selective electrodes (ISEs) are presented for cationic surfactant ions found in common cleaners including benzyldimethyltetradecylammonium, benzyldimethyldodecylammonium, and benzyldimethylhexadecylammonium. The ion exchangers dinonylnaphthalene sulfonic acid, tetraphenyborate, and tetrakis(4-chlorophenyl)borate are examined, showing dinonylnaphthalene sulfonic acid to be the favored species. The ISEs exhibit approximately Nernstian behavior down to the 10⁻⁶ M limit of detection with lifetimes in excess of 50 days when used continuously, and a shelf life of over 100 days. Reaching the upper detection limit at the critical micelle concentration requires use of polymeric-membrane reference electrodes including a new membrane cocktail, which allow response measurements of an order of magnitude higher than the traditional fritted-glass reference electrode. The surfactant ISEs show excellent selectivity over the common metal ions Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Cu²⁺ with selectivity coefficients less than 10^−5.3. The ISEs are also selective over the lower molecular weight quaternary ammonium ions tetradecyltrimethylammonium, dodecyltrimethylammonium, benzyldimethyl(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium, and tetrabutylammonium with selectivity coefficients ranging from 10^−1.7 to 10^−5.5. Use of a single electrode to determine accurately the total cationic surfactant concentration in common cleaning solutions is accomplished with information about concentration dependent interferences and a modified Nikolsky–Eisenman model. Finally, quaternary ammonium surfactants have a deleterious effect on the measurements of pH and common ions like K⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ with polymeric ISEs. This makes it critical to include surfactant electrodes in a detector array when cleaning agents are present.     

Preparation of multiwall carbon nanotubes film modified electrode and its application to simultaneous determination of oxidizable amino acids in ion chromatography

A multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) film modified electrode was prepared and used as an amperometric sensor for the simultaneous determination of oxidizable amino acids including cysteine, tryptophane and tyrosine. The electrochemical behaviors of these amino acids at this modified electrode were studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV). The results indicated that the MWNTs chemically modified electrode (CME) exhibited efficient electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of these amino acids with relatively high sensitivity, stability and long-life. Following separation by ion chromatography (IC) with 2.0×10⁻³ mol l⁻¹ citric acid buffer solution (pH 6.5) as eluent, cysteine, tryptophane and tyrosine could be determined by the MWNTs CME successfully. Under the optimal conditions, the detection limits were 7.0×10⁻⁷ mol l⁻¹ for cysteine, 2.0×10⁻⁷ mol l⁻¹ for tryptophane and 3.5×10⁻⁷ mol l⁻¹ for tyrosine at the signal-to-noise of 3, respectively. The method was applied successfully to the determination of these substances in plasma.     

Pulse radiolysis study of reactions of alkyl and alkylperoxy radicals originating from methyl tert-butyl ether in the gas phase

UV spectra and kinetics for the reactions of alkyl and alkylperoxy radicals from methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) were studied in 1 atm of SF₆ by the pulse radiolysis-UV absorption technique. UV spectra for the radical mixtures were quantified from 215 to 340 nm. At 240 nm. σ_R = (2.6 ± 0.4) × 10⁻¹⁸ cm² molecule⁻¹ and σ_RO2 = (4.1 ± 0.6) × 10⁻¹⁸ cm² molecule⁻¹ (base e). The rate constant for the self-reaction of the alkyl radicals is (2.5 ± 1.1) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The rate constants for reaction of the alkyl radicals with molecular oxygen and the alkylperoxy radicals with NO and NO₂ are (9.1 ± 1.5) × 10⁻¹³, (4.3 ± 1.6) × 10⁻¹² and (1.2 ± 0.3) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively. The rate constants given above refer to reaction at the tert-butyl side of the molecule.     

Electrocatalytic response of norepinephrine at a thiolactic acid self-assembled gold electrode

The thiolactic acid (TLA) self-assembled monolayer modified gold electrode (TLA/Au) is demonstrated to catalyze the electrochemical response of norepinephrine (NE) by cyclic voltammetry. A pair of well-defined redox waves were obtained and the calculated standard rate constant (k_s) is 5.11×10⁻³ cm s⁻¹ at the self-assembled electrode. The electrode reaction is a pseudo-reversible process. The peak current and the concentration of NE are a linear relationship in the range of 4.0×10⁻⁵–2.0×10⁻³ mol l⁻¹. The detection limit is 2.0×10⁻⁶ mol l⁻¹. By ac impedance spectroscopy the apparent electron transfer rate constant (k_app) of Fe(CN)³⁻/Fe(CN)⁴⁻ at the TLA/Au electrode was obtained as 2.5×10⁻⁵ cm s⁻¹.     

Determination of phosphate in hydroponic nutrient solutions using flow injection potentiometry and a cobalt-wire phosphate ion-selective electrode

The direct flow injection potentiometric (FIP) analysis of phosphate in hydroponic nutrient solution has been carried out using a cobalt-wire ion-selective electrode (ISE). Synthetic hydroponic nutrient solution, commercial hydroponic nutrient solution and working hydroponic farm nutrient solution were analysed for phosphate using the FIP technique. It is shown that FIP results compare favourably to standard methods of analysis such as spectrophotometry and indirect photometric ion-pair chromatography. Reproducible FIP response curves with a slope of −(47.57±0.03) mV per decade and intercept of −(169.7±0.1) mV were obtained for four separate calibrations in the concentration range 5.0×10⁻⁴–1.0×10⁻² M H₂PO₄⁻. Anion corrections for interferences by Cl⁻, NO₃⁻ and SO₄²⁻ were applied to all samples using the selectivity coefficients determined independently using a fixed interference method. Nevertheless, it was found that anion corrections were not necessary, as the deviations fell within the bounds of experimental error for the cobalt-wire ISE technique (i.e.±2–5% R.S.D.). The proposed FIP method enables the direct determination of phosphate in hydroponic nutrient solutions.     

A23187-mediated Cd uptake by highly stable, polymerized metal-sorbing vesicles

Vesicles formed from the polymerizable phospholipid, 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-(N-2(methacryloyloxy)ethyl)-phosphocholine, and the crosslinker, 1,2-dihydroxyethylene-bis-acrylamide, exhibit significantly enhanced stability relative to egg phosphatidylcholine (PC) vesicles. As evidenced by absorbance measurements, methacrylate PC vesicles with a 1 : 75 crosslinker-to-lipid molar ratio retain their integrity in up to 20% (v/v) ethanol as opposed to <10% (v/v) for egg PC vesicles. These crosslinked-polymerized vesicles also remain impermeable to Cd²⁺ (in the absence of ionophore) for up to 15 mM octyl glucoside. Furthermore, the crosslinked-polymerized vesicles show enhanced stability under osmotic stress. These inprovements in vesicle robustness are attained without dramatic loss in A23187-mediated Cd²⁺ permeability. The initial Cd²⁺ permeability of crosslinked-polymerized (1 : 75 crosslinker-to-lipid molar ratio) and egg PC vesicles, with A23187 as ionophore, measured 6.0 × 10⁻⁵ and 9.8 × 10⁻⁵ cm s⁻¹, respectively.     

Zn(II)-selective membrane electrode based on tetra(2-aminophenyl) porphyrin

A new PVC membrane electrode for Zn²⁺ ions based on tetra(2-aminophenyl) porphyrin (TAPP) as membrane carrier is prepared. The sensor exhibits a linear stable response over a wide concentration range (5.0×10⁻⁵ to 1.0×10⁻¹ M) with a slope of 26.5 mV/decade and a limit of detection 3.0×10⁻⁵ M (1.96 ppm). It has a response time of about l0 s and can be used for at least 8 months without any divergence in potential. The propose membrane sensor revealed good selectivities for Zn²⁺ over a wide variety of other metal ions and can be used in pH range of 3.0–6.0. It was successfully applied to the direct determination of zinc in a pharmaceutical sample and also as an indicator electrode in potentiometric titration of Zn²⁺ ions.     

Fluorescence reaction and complexation equilibria between norfloxacin and aluminium (III) ion in chloride medium

Norfloxacin, 1-ethyl-6-fluoro-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-(1-piperazinyl)-3-quinoline carboxylic acid (NORH), reacts with aluminium(III) ion forming the strongly fluorescent complex [Al(HNOR)]³⁺, in slightly acidic medium. The complex shows maximum emission at 440 nm with excitation at 320 nm. The fluorescence intensity is enhanced upon addition of 0.5% sodium dodecylsulphate. Fluorescence properties of the Al-NOR complex were used for the direct determination of trace amounts of NOR in serum. The linear dependence of fluorescence intensity on NOR concentration, at a NOR to Al concentration ratio of 1:10, was found in the concentration range 0.001–2 μg/ml NOR with a detection limit of 0.1 ng/ml. The ability of aluminium (III) ion to form complexes with NOR was investigated by titrations in 0.1 M LiCl medium, using a glass electrode, at 298 K, in the concentration range: 2 × 10⁻⁴ ≤ [Al] ≤ 8 × 10⁻⁴; 5 × 10⁻⁴ ≤ [NOR] ≤ 9 × 10⁻⁴ mol/dm³; 2.8 ≤ pH ≤ 8.3. The experimental data were explained by the following complexes and their respective stability constants, log(β ± σ): [Al(HNOR)], (14.60 ± 0.05); [Al(NOR)], (8.83 ± 0.08); [A1(OH)₃(NOR)], (−14.9 ± 0.1), as well as several pure hydrolytic complexes of A1³⁺. The structure of the [Al(HNOR)] complex is discussed, with respect to its fluorescence properties.     

Flow injection determination of iodide ion in a photographic developing solution using iodide ion-selective electrode detector

A potentiometric flow injection determination method for iodide ion in a photographic developing solution was proposed by utilizing a flow-through type iodide ion-selective electrode detector. The sensing membrane of the electrode was Ag₂S–AgI membrane. The response of the electrode detector as a peak-shape signal was obtained for injected iodide ion in a photographic developing solution. A linear relationship in the subnernstian zone was found to exist between peak height and the concentration of the iodide ion in a photographic developing solution in a concentration range from 0 to 6.0×10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹. The relative standard deviation for ten injections of 2×10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹ iodide ion in a photographic developing solution was 0.96% and the sampling rate was approximately 12–13 samples h⁻¹. The iodide ion could be determined under coexisting of an organic reducing reagent and inorganic electrolytes of high concentration in a photographic developing solution sample solution by the present method.     

A trimethoprim-selective membrane electrode

An electrode selective for trimethoprim is based on the ion-pair complex of trimethoprim with silicotungstate, and gives rapid response to change in trimethoprim concentration over the range 3 × 10⁻⁵−2 × 10⁻² M with a response slope of 51.0 ± 1.5 mV/decade. No significant interferences are caused by sulpha-drugs. The electrode can be used for the potentiometric determination of trimethoprim.     

Electrochemical polymerization of toluidine blue o and its electrocatalytic activity toward NADH oxidation

A stable electroactive thin film of poly(toluidine blue o) (PTOB) has been deposited on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode by cyclic voltammetry from an aqueous solution containing toluidine blue o (TOB). Cyclic voltammograms of PTOB indicate the presence of two redox couples and the formal potential shifts linearly in the negative direction with increasing solution pH with a slope of 58 and 54 mV per pH unit for couple I and couple II, respectively. The PTOB modified glassy carbon electrode shows electrocatalytic activity toward NADH oxidation in phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.0), with an overpotential ca. 470 mV lower than that of the bare electrode. The catalytic rate constant of the modified glassy carbon electrode for the oxidation of NADH is determined by cyclic voltammetry and rotating disk electrode measurements. The experimental results indicate that the electrode can be used as a detector for NADH determination with a linear range of 5.0×10⁻⁶ to 2.0×10⁻³ mol l⁻¹ and the detection limits of (5.0±0.3)×10⁻⁷ mol l⁻¹ at optimal conditions.     

Spectrophotometric determination of nitrite based on its catalytic effect on the oxidation of carminic acid by bromate

A highly sensitive and selective method is described for the determination of trace amounts of nitrite based on its effect on the oxidation of carminic acid with bromate. The reaction was monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring the decrease in absorbance of carminic acid at 490 nm after 3 min of mixing the reagents. The optimum reaction conditions were 1.8×10⁻¹ mol l⁻¹ H₂SO₄, 3.8×10⁻³ mol l⁻¹ KBrO₃, and 1.2×10⁻⁴ mol l⁻¹ carminic acid at 30°C. By using the recommended procedure, the calibration graph was linear from 0.2 to 14 ng ml⁻¹ of nitrite; the detection limit was 0.04 ng ml⁻¹; the R.S.D. for six replicate determinations of 6 ng ml⁻¹ was 1.7%. The method is mostly free from interference, especially from large amounts of nitrate and ammonium ions. The proposed method was applied to the determination of nitrite in rain and river water.