Coated-wire electrodes containing polymer immobilized ionophores blended with poly(vinyl chloride)

Polymers containing covalently attached 18-crown-6 or 2.2.2 cryptand units were incorporated into plasticized PVC membranes and the composite membranes were examined as potassium ion sensor elements. Ionophores were linked to carboxy-PVC and to poly(acrylic acid) via amide linkages to an alkyl spacer unit. Coated-wire electrodes (CWEs) from the immobilized ionophores gave acceptable responses, but conventional ion-selective membrane electrodes (ISEs) prepared by solvent casting were inactive. Dip-cast membranes did give active ISEs. Potassium electrode performance was independent of the loading of the ionophore within the acrylate support polymer, but depended upon the spacer length. Ion selectivity varied with the ionophore loading within the support polymer. Selectivity is a composite of the ionophore selectivity and ion-exchange interactions with the acrylate backbone, giving selectivities akin to carboxylate substituted crown ethers, notably enhanced monovalent/divalent ion discrimination relative to the ionophore in solution. Polymer immobilization extended the lifetime of active electrodes.     

Tripodal compound 1,1,1-tris(N-ethyl-N-phenylamino-carboxylmethoxymethyl) propane as an ionophore for alkali and alkaline earth metal cations-selective electrode

A new tripodal compound, 1,1,1-tris(N-ethyl-N-phenylamino-carboxylmethoxymethyl) propane, has been synthesized and evaluated as an ionophore in PVC membrane electrode for the analysis of alkali and alkaline earth metal cations. The influence of the nature of the plasticizers (o-NPOE, DBP and DOP) and of the amount of incorporated ionophore on the characteristics of the electrode was discussed. Selectivity coefficients against alkali and alkaline earth metal cations were calculated. The electrodes based on the tripodal compound with o-NPOE and DBP as plasticizer gave good performance (slope, limits of detection) to lithium and sodium ions. The electrode plasticized with o-NPOE also exhibited near-Nernstian response to divalent ions: Ca(2+), Sr(2+) and Ba(2+). The electrode prepared with 3.9 mg ionophore, 185 mg o-NPOE, 92 mg PVC and 0.46 mg KTpClPB can be used as a Ca(2+) electrode. The influence of pH has also been studied. The electrodes exhibited better potential stability and operational lifetime of more than 3 months.     

A comparative study of four 20-membered N2S4-crown ethers as ionophores for polymeric membrane silver

Four 20-membered N2S4-monoazathiacrown ethers have been synthesized and explored as neutral ionophores for Ag+-selective electrodes.Potentiometric responses reveal that the flexibility of the ligands has great effect on the selectivity and sensitivity to Ag+ions.The electrode based on ionophore 9,10,20,25-tetrahydro-5H,12H-tribenzo[b,n,r][1,7,10,16,4,13]tetrathiadiaza cycloicosine6,13-(7H,14H)-dione(C)with 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether(ο-NPOE)as solvent in a poly(vinyl chloride)(PVC)membrane matrix shows a measuring range of 1.0 × 10-6 to 1.0 × 10-3 mol/L with a Nemstian slope of 54.9 ± 0.3 mV/decade.This electrode has high selectivity for Ag+with negligible interference from many other cations and can be used in a wide pH range of 3.6-9.2.     

New cesium ion-selective electrodes based on anilino-(1,3-dioxo-2-indanylidene) acetonitrile derivatives

Cesium ion-selective PVC membrane electrodes based on anilino-(1,3-dioxo-2-indanylidene) acetonitrile derivatives as a novel class of neutral ionophores were examined. The ionophores were p-methoxyanilino-(1,3-dioxo-2-indanylidene) acetonitrile, p-methylanilino-(1,3-dioxo-2-indanylidene) acetonitrile and p-N,N-dimethylanilino-(1,3-dioxo-2-indanylidene) acetonitrile. The anilino-(1,3-dioxo-2-indanylidene) acetonitrile proved to work well with cesium, the corresponding electrodes display a response to this ion. The most favourable ionophore was p-methoxyanilino-(1,3-dioxo-2-indanylidene) acetonitrile, especially when the secondary ion exchanger potassium tetrakis (4-chlorophenyl) borate was incorporated in 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether for ion-selective electrode membrane construction. The response function was linear within the concentration range 10(-1)-2.5x10(-5) mol l(-1) and the slope was 52 mV decade(-1). The detection limit remained at 6.3x10(-6) mol(-1). The selectivity and response time of the electrode was studied and it was found that the electrode exhibited good selectivity for cesium over alkali, alkaline earth and some transition metal ions. The electrode response was stable over a wide pH range. The lifetime of the electrode was about 1 month.     

Ribonucleic acid as a novel ionophore for potentiometric membrane sensors of some transition metal ions

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is used as a novel ionophore in plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) matrix membrane sensors for some transition metal ions. Membranes incorporating RNA and doped in Cu(2+), Cd(2+) and Fe(2+) display fast near-Nernstian and stable responses for these ions with cationic slopes of 31.1, 31.3 and 35.5 mV per decade, respectively, over the concentration range 10(-6)-10(-2) M and pH range 4-6.5. The cadmium RNA-based sensor shows no interference by Cu(2+), Fe(2+) Hg(2+) and Ag(+), which are known to interfere significantly with the solid-state CdS/Ag(2)S membrane electrode. The copper RNA-based sensor displays general potentiometric characteristics similar to those based on macrocyclic ionophores and organic ion exchangers and has the advantage of a better selectivity for Cu(2+) over some alkaline earth, divalent and transition metal ions. The iron RNA-based membrane sensor exhibits no interference by Hg(2+) and Zn(2+), which are known to interfere with other previously suggested sensors. The nature and composition of the RNA ionophore and its cadmium complex are examined using electrophoresis, Fourier-transform infrared analysis, elemental analysis and X-ray fluorescence techniques.     

Platinum porphyrins as ionophores in polymeric membrane electrodes

A comparative study of Pt(II)- and Pt(IV)-porphyrins as novel ionophores for anion-selective polymeric membrane electrodes is performed. Polymeric membranes of different compositions, prepared by varying plasticizers, cationic and anionic additives and Pt porphyrins, have been examined by potentiometric and optical techniques. Pt porphyrin-based devices were found to exhibit enhanced potentiometric selectivity toward iodide ion compared to electrodes based on a typical anion-exchanger (e.g. tridodecylmethylammonium chloride). It is shown that Pt(II)-porphyrins function as neutral anion carriers within the electrode membranes, while those based on Pt(IV)TPPCl(2) operate via a mixed mode carrier mechanism, evidencing also a partial reduction of the starting ionophore to Pt(II)TPP. Spectrophotometric measurements of thin polymeric films indicate that no spontaneous formation of hydroxide ion bridged porphyrin dimers occurs in the membrane plasticized both with high or low dielectric constant plasticizer, due to a low oxophilicity of central Pt. The computational study of various anion-Pt(IV)TPPCl(2) complex formation by means of semi-empirical and density functional theory (DFT) methods revealed a good correlation between calculated and measured ionophore selectivity.     

Symmetrical, unsymmetrical and bridged calix[4]arene derivatives as neutral carrier ionophores in poly (vinyl chloride) membrane sodium selective electrodes

The complexing ability of a range of 19 symmetrical, unsymmetrical and bridged calix[4]arene derivatives having ester, ketone, amide, amine and thioether functionalities were determined by the picrate extraction method. On incorporating these calix[4]arene derivatives as neutral carrier ionophores in sodium-selective poly (vinyl chloride) membrane electrodes the performance was assessed on the basis of the sensitivity and selectivity over the alkali, alkaline earth metals and hydrogen and ammonium ions. The temperature dependence, response times and lifetimes were also determined. Four ionophores in particular gave excellent sensitivity and selectivity and lifetimes of > 200 days. These electrodes were then tested without additional lipophilic additives and one ionophore was incorporated into poly (vinyl chloride) membrane electrodes with plasticizing solvents of varying polarity.     

Water Hardness Electrodes with Ionophores Containing Oxy- and Ester-Groups

Lipophilic compounds combining oxy- and ester-groups are synthesized and studied as neutral ionophores in plasticized PVC membranes for the development of novel water hardness ion-selective electrodes. Electrodes based on the ionophores studied showed a higher selectivity to calcium over magnesium ions. However, for electrodes based on hexadecyl-4-hydroxybutanoate or decyloxybutanol this preference turned to be rather low: logK_CaMg=–(0.5–0.7). Electrodes with membranes containing hexadecyl-4- hydroxybutanoate, 0.3 M as a neutral ionophore and bis[4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenyl]phosphate, 0.01 M as a charged ionophore, in combination with Ca²⁺-selective electrode based on ETH 1001 as ionophore, proved to be suitable for measurements of water hardness, also for the measurement of Mg²⁺ ion content in artificial aquarium fish-breeding water samples and in samples modeling electrolyte composition of blood serum.     

A coated wire-type lead(II) ion-selective electrode based on a phosphorylated calix[4]arene derivative.

The preparation of a lead-selective electrode based on 5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl-25,26,27,28-tetrakis-(diphenylphosphinoylmethoxy)calix[4]arene (1) as an ionophore is reported. The plasticized PVC membrane containing 30% PVC, 57% ortho-nitrophenyloctylether (NPOE), 4% sodium tetraphenylborate (NaTPB) and 9% ionophore 1 was directly coated on a graphite electrode. It exhibits a nearly Nernstian slope of 28.0 +/- 0.2 mV decade(-1) over a concentration range of 1 x 10(-5) - 1 x 10(-2) mol dm(-3) with a detection limit of 1.4 x 10(-6) mol dm(-3). The response time of the electrode was found to be ca. 17 s. The potential of the sensor was independent of the pH variation in the range 3.5 - 5.0. The selectivity of the electrode performance towards lead ions over Th4+, La3+, Sm3+, Dy3+, Y3+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Cd2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Co2+, NH4+ Ag+, Li+, Na+ and K+ ions was investigated. The prepared electrode was used successfully as an indicator electrode for a potentiometric titration of a lead solution using a standard solution of EDTA. The applicability of the sensor for Pb2+ measurements in various synthetic water samples spiked with lead nitrate was also checked.     

Quantitive binding constants of H(+)-selective chromoionophores and anion ionophores in solvent polymeric sensing membranes

The binding properties of neutral or charged chromoionophores and anion ionophores in solvent polymeric membranes were characterized in situ by the so-called sandwich membrane method. Acidity constants (pK(a)) of eight chromoionophores (ETH 5294, ETH 2439, ETH 5350, ETH 5418, ETH 5315, ETH 7061, ETH 7075, ETH 2412) were measured in bis(2-ethylhexyl)sebacate (DOS) and o-nitrophenyloctylether (NPOE) plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membranes commonly used in optical and potentiometric ion sensors. The pK(a) values of all chromoionophores in DOS membranes are by 2-3 orders of magnitude smaller than in NPOE membranes. The weak alkali metal ion binding properties with neutral H(+)-chromoionophore and anion binding with electrically charged chromoionophores were also studied quantitatively. The complex formation constants of the commercially available Co(III)cobyrinate nitrite ionophore and the organomercury chloride ionophore, ETH 9009, were also measured. The very low stability constant observed for ETH 9009 (logbeta(2)=3.60+/-0.03 in PVC-DOS and 3.61+/-0.01 in PVC-NPOE) was explained by the decomposition of the ionophore in contact with chloride samples. On the other hand, the electrically charged nitrite ionophore showed strong complexation with nitrite ions, with logbeta=10.58 and 10.59 in DOS and NPOE membranes, respectively. In contrast to cation ionophores, the stability constant of the NO(2)(-) ionophore does not change with different plasticizers.     

Evaluating the Effect of four Hosting Ionophores on the Performance of Anion Selective Potentiometric Sensor

A systematically designed practical approach was carried out for the optimization of an anion selective electrode for the determination of an anionic laxative, docusate sodium (DS). The PVC membrane composition and the sensor assembly were systematically optimized. Different sensors were fabricated using tetradodecylammonium bromide (TDAB), tridodecylmethylammonium bromide, tetraheptylammonium bromide as ion exchangers. The effect of ionophore was evaluated using four different host‐guest ionophores, namely; calix[8]arene, β‐cylodextrin, hydroxypropyl‐β‐cylodextrin and carboxymethyl‐β‐cylodextrin to reach the optimum membrane composition. Sensors were constructed in both liquid membrane and solid contact sensor‐assemblies. The slope, linear range, LOQ and response time for each sensor was calculated to assess their performance characteristics. Best Nernstian slope of ?61.38 mV/decade and lowest quantification limit of 7.62×10^?7 M was achieved by the sensor containing TDAB as ion exchanger and Calix[8]arene as ionophore in the PVC matrix using the gold wire solid contact sensor assembly. Electrode selectivity was assured in the presence of DS potential degradation product, common interfering ions and industrial excipients of tablet and gel formulations. Validation was carried out regarding the ICH validation parameters.     

Polymeric membrane electrodes with enhanced fluoride selectivity using Zr(IV)-porphyrins functioning as neutral carriers

Poly(vinyl chloride) polymeric membranes plasticized with o-NPOE (o-nitrophenyl octyl ether) or DOS (dibutyl sebacate) and containing Zr(IV)-octaethyl(OEP)- or Zr(IV)-tetraphenylporphyrins (TPP) along with lipophilic cationic additives (tridodecylmethylammonium chloride; TDMACl) are examined potentiometrically and optically with respect to their response toward fluoride. It is shown that these zirconium porphyrins can function as neutral anion carriers within the organic membranes of the electrodes. Spectrophotometric measurements of thin polymeric films indicate that the presence of lipophilic cationic sites in the form of TDMA⁺ and use of lower dielectric constant plasticizer (DOS) prevents formation of metalloporphyrin dimers in the organic polymer phase, which have been observed previously in polymeric membranes formulated with the same Zr(IV) porphyrins but with lipophilic anion site additives. By preventing dimer formation, rapid and Nernstian potentiometric response of the corresponding membrane electrodes toward fluoride ion is observed. Indeed, electrodes prepared with PVC/DOS membranes containing Zr(IV)-OEP and 15 mol% of TDMACl (relative to the ionophore) exhibit fast (t₉₅<15 s) and reversible response toward fluoride. The slope of calibration plots are near-Nernstian (−59.9 mV per decade). Such electrodes display the following selectivity pattern: ClO₄⁻>SCN⁻>F⁻>NO₃⁻>Br⁻>Cl⁻, which differs significantly from the classical Hofmeister series, with greatly enhanced potentiometric selectivity toward fluoride. The data presented herein, coupled with results from a previous study, confirm that Zr(IV) porphyrins can serve as either charged or neutral type anion carriers with respect to their enhanced interactions with fluoride when used as ionophores to prepare liquid-polymeric membrane electrodes, and that the nature of membrane additives and plasticizer dictates the response mechanism at play for given membrane formulations.     

Cs+ -selective membrane electrodes based on ethylene glycol-functionalized polymeric microspheres

A new strategy for improving the robustness of membrane-based ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) is introduced based on the incorporation of microsphere-immobilized ionophores into plasticized polymer membranes. As a model system, a Cs⁺-selective electrode was developed by doping ethylene glycol-functionalized cross-linked polystyrene microspheres (P-EG) into a plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) matrix containing sodium tetrakis-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] borate (TFPB) as the ion exchanger. Electrodes were evaluated with respect to Cs⁺ in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, and dynamic response. ISEs containing P-EG and TFPB that were plasticized with 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether (NPOE) yielded a linear range from 10⁻¹ to 10⁻⁵ M Cs⁺, a slope of 55.4 mV/decade, and a lower detection limit (log a_Cs) of −5.3. In addition, these membranes also demonstrated superior selectivity over Li⁺, Na⁺, and alkaline earth metal ion interferents when compared to analogous membranes plasticized with bis(2-ethylhexyl) sebacate (DOS) or membranes containing a lipophilic, mobile ethylene glycol derivative (ethylene glycol monooctadecyl ether (U-EG)) as ionophore.     

Tetrabenzyl pyrophosphate as a new class of neutral carrier responsive to lead ion

Tetrabenzyl pyrophosphate and diphenylphosphinic anhydride, with two phosphoryl groups (PO) as ligating sites, can be used as novel ionophores to make Pb(2+)-selective membrane electrodes. A good result was obtained with tetrabenzyl pyrophosphate, and the electrode based on this ionophore and bis(1-butylpentyl) adipate as a solvent mediator in a poly(vinyl chloride) membrane matrix exhibited a near-Nernstian response to Pb(2+) in the concentration range of 1x10(-5)-1x10(-2) M with a slope of 28.7 mV per concentration decade in a solution containing 0.1 M Mg(NO(3))(2). The limit of detection was 3x10(-6) M. The selectivity of this electrode to other metal cations was comparable to the best case in many Pb(2+)-selective electrodes so far developed. Addition of potassium tetrakis(p-chlorophenyl)borate (40 mol% relative to tetrabenzyl pyrophosphate) caused a drastic change in the response slope (53.3 mV per concentration decade), probably due to the formation of PbA(+), where A stands for anions present in the sample solution, and decreased significantly the electrode selectivity to other metal cations.     

Nitrite‐Selective Electrode Based On Cobalt(II) tert‐Butyl‐Salophen Ionophore

A series of polymeric nitrite‐selective electrodes containing a new lipophilic ionophore Co(II) tert‐butyl‐salophen is reported. The stability of Co(II) ionophores within a PVC‐based membrane was investigated by leaching experiments. Different membrane compositions were explored in order to reach the lowest possible limit of detection for a PVC‐based nitrite selective polymeric membrane electrode containing this ionophore. The optimal electrode showed a limit of detection of 2×10^?6 M and exhibited four orders of magnitude of discrimination over nitrate, chloride and bromide. The electrodes were evaluated in undiluted human urine and attest to the robustness of the ionophore.     

Synthesis and characterization of covalently immobilized bis-crown ether based potassium ionophore

The synthesis of a novel covalently immobilized crown ether based potassium ionophore is presented. Apart from previously proposed methods for the preparation of PVC linked ionophores based on the chemical modification of functionalized PVC polymers, the hereby proposed procedure involves the direct copolymerization of a suitable derivative of the bis-crown ether type potassium ionophore (BME 44) and vinyl chloride monomer. The analytical performance of the potentiometric ion selective electrodes incorporating the PVC bound ionophore were optimized and determined. Compared with electrodes based on other bis-crown ether type immobilized potassium selective ionophores a slightly improved logK(K, Na)(Pot) and a longer lifetime was found. Spectral imaging and chronoamperometry were used to study the mobility of different bis-crown ether derivatives in plasticized PVC membranes.     

Potassium-selective membrane electrodes based on macrocyclic metacyclophanes analogous to calixarenes.

The tetrabutyl ester derived from 9,16,25,32-tetrahydroxy[3.1.3.1]metacyclophane was an excellent ionophore for constructing a K+-selective membrane electrode. This ionophore exhibited a much higher selectivity toward K+ than the structurally similar potassium ionophore IV commercially available from Fluka. In particular, the interference from organic ammonium ions decreased remarkably. Potassium ionophore IV possessed oxygen atoms in the ring structure, while the present ionophore changed the oxygen atoms to carbon atoms. Thus, the removal of oxygen atoms in ring constituents of the metacyclophane acted to reduce the interaction with the NH3+ group of organic ammonium ions. The size of the cavity of the present ionophore was between those of calix[4]arene and calix[6]arene derivatives, which act as Na+ and Cs+ ionophores, respectively, demonstrating that the ability to recognize alkali metal cations was strongly cavity size-dependent. The present K+-selective electrode had less interference from Rb+ and Cs+ than an electrode constructed using valinomycin, but suffered greater interference from Na+.     

Poly(vinyl chloride) membrane cesium ion-selective electrodes based on lipophilic calix[6]arene tetraester derivatives

New lipophilic tetraesters of calix[6]arene and calix[6]diquinone are investigated as cesium ion-selective ionophores in poly(vinyl chloride) membrane electrodes. For an ion-selective electrode based on calix[6]arene tetraester I, the linear response is 1x10(-6)-1x10(-1) M of Cs(+) concentrations. The selectivity coefficients for cesium ion over alkali, alkaline earth and ammonium ions are determined. The detection limit (log a (Cs (+))=-6.31) and the selectivity coefficient (log k (Cs (+),Rb (+))(pot )=-1.88) are obtained for polymeric membrane electrode containing calix[6]arene tetraester I.     

Benzodipyrrole derivates as new ionophores for anion-selective electrodes: improving potentiometric selectivity towards divalent anions

Two open substituted benzodipyrroles were tested as hydrogen-bond-forming anion ionophores for the development of anion-selective electrodes. These compounds were incorporated in plasticized polymeric membranes with different plasticizers, using different membrane compositions to explore their response towards several anions. The electrodes constructed with membranes containing 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether and a 0.5 molar ratio ionic additive/ionophore showed pronounced anti-Hofmeister behaviour, providing a significantly enhanced response towards the divalent anions sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate and oxalate. The selected electrodes were also evaluated in terms of detection limits and selectivity. ¹H NMR experiments were carried out in an attempt to explain some aspects of the behaviour observed.     

Boronic esters as ionophores for potentiometric discrimination of the cis-trans isomeric dicarboxylic acids

Boronic esters incorporated into a poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)-supported liquid membrane electrodes have displayed an anionic ionophore properties enabling their use in the potentiometric high-throughput screening procedures. These compounds belong to the class of ligands in which the anion recognition process can be explained on the concept of Lewis type acid-base interactions. Membranes containing boronic esters showed fairly good sensitivity for maleate (cis-isomer) in comparison to fumarate anions (trans-isomer). The potentiometric selectivity coefficients of proposed electrodes proved that common anions did not interfered with the maleate anion determination. The influence of structure of the three boronic esters ionophores on generation of potentiometric signal by developed liquid membrane electrodes was shortly discussed.