Lead ion-selective membrane electrodes based on some recently synthesized 9,10-anthraquinone derivatives

Four different 9,10-anthraquinone derivatives were studied to characterize their abilities as lead ion carrier in PVC membrane electrodes. The electrode based on 1,8-dihydroxy-2,7-bis(prop-2′-enyl)-9,10-anthraquinone exhibits a Nernstian response for Pb²⁺ ions over a wide concentration range (2.0×10⁻³–2.0×10⁻⁶ M). The response time of the sensor is 30 s and the membrane can be used for more than four months without observing any deviation. The electrode revealed comparatively good selectivities with respect to alkali, alkaline earth and some transition and heavy metal ions. It was used as an indicator electrode in potentiometric titration of sulfate ions with a lead ion solution.     

Construction of novel simple phosphate screen-printed and carbon paste ion-selective electrodes

The construction and performance characteristics of different phosphate ion-selective electrodes are described. Three types of electrodes are demonstrated, namely screen-printed, carbon paste and the conventional PVC membrane electrodes. The cited electrodes are based on bisthiourea ionophores and show a considerable selectivity towards hydrogenphosphate with Nernstian slopes depending on the type of the electrode and the ionophore used. Matrix compositions of each electrode are optimised on the basis of effects of type and concentration of the ionophore as well as influence of the selected plasticizers. The screen-printed electrodes work satisfactorily in the concentration range 10⁻⁵ to 10⁻² mol L⁻¹ with anionic Nernstian compliance (32.8 mV/decade activity) and detection limit 4.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹. The screen-printed electrodes show fast response time of about 2.2 s and exhibit adequate shelf-life (4 months). The fabricated electrodes can be also successfully used in the potentiometric titration of HPO₄²⁻ with Ba²⁺.     

Ion-selective electrodes for determination of phenylalanine based on uranyl complexes of phosphoryl-containing podands

The possibility of phenylalanine determination using membrane ion-selective electrodes based on uranyl complexes with phosphoryl-containing podands was shown. The variation of the procedure of membrane preparation (either entrapping the preliminarily synthesized uranyl-podand complex in the membrane phase or conditioning of the podand-containing membrane in the uranyl solution) was found to have practically no effect on the electrode properties. Published inIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1729–1732, October, 2000.     

Molecular design of calixarene-based ion-selective electrodes

In order to obtain insights into relationships between the calix[4]arene structure and the ion selectivity in the electrode system, 20 ionophoric calix[4]arenes were synthesized and their ion selectivity (with Na⁺ as a standard) estimated. Among these ionophoric calix[4]arenes, 25,26,27,28-tetrakis[(ethoxycarbonyl)methoxy]-p-t-octylcalix[4]arene afforded the highest logK _NA,M ^pot value (–3.1) in the presence of 2-fluorophenyl-2-nitrophenylether (10) as the best of 13 plasticizers. This is the first example in which the Na⁺/K⁺ selectivity exceeds a factor of 10³ in the electrode system based on the neutral carrier. The high Na⁺ selectivity is attributed to modification of the upper rim which ostensibly has no relation with the component of the cavity. This paper demonstrates the potential relationships between the unique structure of the calix[4]arene-based ligands and selectivity performance for the design of ion-selective electrodes.     

Quality control criteria for solid-contact, solvent polymeric membrane ion-selective electrodes

After a long history and conflicting views, solid-contact (SC) solvent polymeric membrane ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) emerged as reliable potentometric-sensing devices with unique advantages. From the large variety of proposed SCs inherently conductive polymers emerged as the materials of choice. In our view, the most attractive feature of SC ISEs is their compatibility with thin- and thick-film microfabrication technologies that can provide cheap, mass-produced sensors and sensor arrays that can be integrated with the measuring, data acquisition, and control electronics in a straightforward way. However, despite the impressive properties of certain SC electrodes and their potential advantages, they remained primarily in the research laboratories. To make the jump from the research laboratories into commercial devices, it would be essential to prove that miniaturized SC ISEs can indeed match or surpass the performance characteristics of the conventional, liquid-contact macroelectrodes. In addition, it would be important to settle on the quality control criteria and testing protocols for assessing the performance characteristics of SC electrodes. It could help in interpreting the sometimes-inconsistent experimental data. Once cheap, miniaturized, SC ISEs will mach the performance characteristics of macroscopic-size electrodes, it is expected to have an important impact in a variety of applications requiring robust, maintenance-free, or single-use ISEs, e.g., in homecare or bedside diagnostics, environmental analysis, and quality control assessment. In addition, reliable SC ISEs are expected to revitalize the field of ion-selective field effect transistors and open new possibilities in combination with nanowire-based devices.     

Novel Ag ion-selective electrodes based on two new mixed azathioether crowns containing a 1,10-phenanthroline sub-unit

Novel polymeric membrane (PME) and coated graphite (CGE) silver-selective electrodes based on two recently synthesized mixed azathioether crowns containing a 1,10-phenanthroline sub-unit were prepared. The electrodes reveal a Nernstian behavior over quite wide Ag⁺ ion concentration ranges with a very low limits of detection (LOD) (i.e. down to 1.0×10⁻⁸ M for CGEs and 8.0×10⁻⁷ M for PMEs). The potentiometric responses are independent of the pH of the test solution in the pH range 3.0-7.0. The electrodes possess advantages of low resistance, very fast response time, relatively long lifetimes and, especially, good selectivities relative to a wide variety of other cations. The electrodes were used, as indicator electrodes, in the potentiometric titration of silver ion and in the determination of Ag⁺ in waste water, photographic emulsion and radiographic and photographic films.     

Alkali metal ion-selective electrodes based on relevant alkali metal ion doped manganese oxides

Potentiometric properties of manganese oxides doped with alkali metal ions (Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺ and Cs⁺), which were prepared by heating mixed solutions (starting solution) of each alkali metal and Mn²⁺ ions, were examined. Electrodes based on mixed phases of Nao₄₄MnO₂/Mn₂O₃ and hollandite KMn₈O₁₆/M₂O₃ found by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) exhibited Na⁺- and K⁺-selective responses with a near-Nernstian slope, respectively, when the molar ratio of alkali metal ion to Mn²⁺ ion in the starting solution was 0.1. When no alkali metal ions were added in the manganese oxide films, no significant potentiometric response was observed to any alkali metal ions. The selectivity coefficients of these electrodes were = 6.7 × 10^–2, = 7.1 × 10^–3, < 9 × 10^–4 and < 9x 10^–4 for the Na_0.44MnO₂/Mn₂O₃, and <4 × 10^–4 <4x 10^–4, =60 × 10^–2 ×10^–4, < 4 × 10^–4, for the KMn₈O₁₆/Mn₂O₃, respectively. Electrodes based on manganese oxides made from mixed solutions of Rb⁺/Mn²⁺ and Cs⁺/Mn²⁺ also responded to the respective primary ions, that is, Rb⁺ and Cs⁺ ions, although XRD patterns for the manganese oxides thus made did not show any peaks except for Mn₂O₃ (bixbyite); it was concluded in these cases that some amorphous type manganese oxides were formed in the Rb⁺/Mn²⁺ and Cs⁺/Mn²⁺ systems and they responded to the respective ions. Conditioning of these electrodes in an aerated indifferent electrolyte solution, 0.1M tetramethylammonium nitrate (TMA-NO₃), for relatively long time, typically more than 2 hours, was found to be a prerequisite for near-Nernstian response to the respective alkali metal ions. During this electrode conditioning, vacant sites (template) suitable in size for selective uptake of primary ions seemed to be formed by releasing the doped alkali metal ions from the solid phase into the adjacent electrolyte solution accompanying oxidation of the manganese oxide film.     

The synthesis of bis(benzo-15-crown-5) derivatives and their use in potassium-PVC membrane electrodes

Five new bis(benzo-15-crown-5) derivatives with different connecting groups were synthesized. Potassium ion-selective PVC membrane electrodes based on these bis(crown ether)s were prepared and their selective properties were measured. The results showed that most of these electrodes are stable over a wide pH range and their selectivity coefficients were better than those of an electrode based on natural valinomycin.     

PVC matrix membrane electrodes based on cobalt and nickel phenanthroline complexes for selective determination of cobalt(II) and nickel(II) ions

Potentiometric sensors for determining cobalt and nickel ions are described. They are based on the use of cobalt and nickel tris(1,10-phenanthroline)-TPB as electroactive compounds dispersed in plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) matrix. The sensors exhibit fast, near-Nernstian responses for cobalt and nickel-phenanthroline cations over the pH range 3–11 with a slope of 30.3 ± 0.3 mV/concentration decade. In the presence of excess 1,10-phenanthroline reagent, cobalt(II) and nickel(II) ions at concentration levels as low as 4 × 10^–6 M are accurately determined. The results show an average metal ion recovery of 98.5% with a mean standard deviation of 0.5%. Cobalt in organometallic compounds and nickel in silicate rocks are determined by these sensors and results agreeing fairly well with atomic absorption spectrometry are obtained.     

Lead-selective membrane electrodes based on dithiophenediazacrown ether derivatives

Three double-armed diazacrown ethers with two thiophene side groups, 7,16-dithenyl-1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,16-diazacyclooctadecane (DTDC), 7,16-dithenoyl-1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,16-diazacyclooctadecane (DTODC), and 7,16-di-(2-thiopheneacetyl)-1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,16-diazacyclooctadecane (DTAODC), have been synthesized and used as novel neutral lead(II) ionophores in ion selective electrode applications. The relationship between the molecular structure of these ionophores and electrochemical properties (linear range, response time, selectivity) of the membrane electrode is discussed. The optimum conditions for the preparation of the electrodes are described. The optimized dithenoyldiazacrown had a detection limit of pPb = 5.7, and Nernstian range with slope 29.2 mV decade⁻¹ from pPb = 5.0 to 2.7. Mercury and silver ions are the major interferences. These electrodes are applied to potentiometric titrations of lead(II) ions and show promise for the determination of lead ions in water samples.     

Potentiometric determination of cetylpyridinium chloride using a new type of screen-printed ion selective electrodes

A new type of screen-printed ion-selective electrode for the determination of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) is presented. These new electrodes involve in situ, modified and unmodified screen-printed ion-selective electrodes for the determination of CPC. The screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) show a stable, near-Nernstian response for 1 × 10⁻² to 1 × 10⁻⁶ M CPC at 25 °C over the pH range 2-8 with cationic slope 60.66 ± 1.10. The lower detection limit is found to be 8 × 10⁻⁷ M and response time of about 3 s and exhibit adequate shelf-life (6 months). The fabricated electrodes can be also successfully used in the potentiometric titration of CPC with sodium tetraphenylborate (NaTPB). The analytical performances of the SPEs are compared with those for carbon paste electrode (CPE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) electrodes. The method is applied for pharmaceutical preparations with a percentage recovery of 99.60% and R.S.D. = 0.53. The frequently used CPC of analytical and technical grade as well as different water samples has been successfully titrated and the results obtained agreed with those obtained with commercial electrode and standard two-phase titration method. The sensitivity of the proposed method is comparable with the official method and ability of field measurements.     

Strontium ion-selective electrodes based on the diamides with pyridine ring as ionophores

Poly(vinyl chloride) membrane strontium ion-selective electrodes were developed by using three lipophilic diamides containing pyridine ring as ionophores. The relationship between the structure of the ionophores and the performance of these electrodes, as well as the effects of the plasticizers and additives, were investigated. The Sr(2+)-electrode based on N,N,N',N'-tetracyclohexyl-2,6-pyridine-bis(methyleneoxy acetamide) as neutral carrier, potassium tetrakis (p-chlorophenyl) borate (KTpClPB) as additive, and o-nitrophenyloctyl ether (o-NPOE) as plasticizing solvent. It exhibits excellent properties with a Nernstian slope of 29 mV/pSr(2+)and a linearity range of 2x10(-5) to 1x10(-2) M at 25 degrees C, K(Sr,Ba)(Pot)=2x10(-2).     

Mesoporous-TiO2 nanoparticles based carbon paste electrodes exhibit enhanced electrochemical sensitivity for phenols

Mesoporous-TiO₂ nanoparticles (meso-TiO₂) and nano-TiO₂ particles (nano-TiO₂) were synthesized and characterized using scanning electron microscopy. The electrochemical behaviours of carbon paste electrodes (CPE), nano-TiO₂/CPE and meso-TiO₂/CPE were investigated using K₃[Fe(CN)₆] as the electrochemical probe. It was observed that the peak potential separation was remarkably decreased at the meso-TiO₂/CPE with higher peak currents in comparison with the other two CPEs. Moreover, the electrochemical performance towards phenol and p-substituted phenol detection was studied with remarkably enhanced oxidation signals at meso-TiO₂/CPE. The meso-TiO₂ shows considerable surface enhancement effects towards phenols which increase linearly with Hammett’s constants. Additionally at higher NaCl concentrations, the oxidation peak currents of phenols notably increases at meso-TiO₂/CPE, while remaining unchanged at CPE and nano-TiO₂/CPE. In summary meso-TiO₂ nanoparticles are superior electrode materials for electrocatalysis.     

Effect of using mixed ion-pairs on PVC-membrane electrodes for ephedrine

Mixed ion-pairs based on the use of ephedrinium (EPH)-TPB plus EPH-reineckate (II) and phenylephrine-TPB plus EPH-reineckate (III) were tried for use in plastic membranes. The results were compared to those of an EPH-reineckate (I) single ion-pair electrode. The Nernstian slopes were 50, 49 and 55 mV decade^–1 for membranes I, II and III, respectively. The linear concentration ranges were 10^–5–10^–1, 4.0 × 10^–5–10^–1 and 6.3 ×^–5–10^–1 M ephedrine. The detection limits were 4 ×^–6,10^–5 and 1.2 × 10^–5 M ephedrine for membranes I, II and III, respectively. The pH ranges were 4–9, 3–9 and 2–8 for I, II and III-membranes, respectively. Selectivity coefficient values for membrane II were better than those for membranes I and III. The effects of increasing KC1 concentration and temperature changes were explained for the three electrodes. The isothermal temperature coefficients were 0.00145, 0.0007 and 0.00055 V/ °C for electrodes I, II and III. Electrode III was applied for the determination of ephedrine in its pharmeaceutical preparations with an overall relative standard deviation range of 1.3–2.4% and an overall mean recovery value of 98.1%.     

Electrochemical reduction of NO on La2-x Sr x NiO4 based electrodes

The series La_2 − x Sr _x NiO₄ (x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.15, 0.25, 0.35, and 1.0) was tested for functionality as electrode materials for direct electrochemical reduction of NO. The materials were tested using cyclic voltammetry in 1% NO and 10% O₂ in Ar on a cone-shaped electrode. The best materials for the electrochemical reduction of NO are La₂NiO₄ and LaSrNiO₄, which have current densities for NO reduction 1.82 and 7.09 times higher, respectively, than for O₂ at 400 °C. Increasing the temperature decreased the ability to reduce NO before O₂ while the activity increased. The adsorbed species during direct decomposition was attempted, clarified using X-ray absorption near-edge structure experiments and thermogravimetry, but no conclusive results were obtained.     

Development of a PVC-membrane ion-selective bulk optode,for UO<Stack><Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>2+</Superscript></Stack> ion,based on tri-<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-octylphosphine oxide and dibenzoylmethane

A novel uranyl ion-selective bulk optode membrane, incorporating tri-n-octylphosphine oxide for cation recognition and a lipophilic chromoionophore dibenzoylmethane, has been prepared. The PVC membrane composition was optimized to result in the widest working concentration range. The response range of the proposed optode is 4.1×10^–6 to 2.0×10^–4 mol L^–1 UO₂²⁺. The probe works at pH 4.0. Ion interference is low and selectivity, reproducibility, and stability are good.     

Copper(II)-selective membrane electrodes based on some recently synthesized mixed aza-thioether crowns containing a 1,10-phenanthroline sub-unit

Three different mixed aza-thioether crowns containing a 1,10-phenanthroline sub-unit were investigated to characterize their abilities as copper(II) ion carriers in PVC-membrane electrodes. The electrode based on L1 exhibited a Nernstian response for Cu²⁺ ions over a wide concentration range (2×10⁻¹ to 1×10⁻⁵ M) with a limit of detection of 8.0×10⁻⁶ M (0.5 p.p.m.). The response time of sensor is 15 s, and the membrane can be used for more than 3 months without observing any deviation. The electrode revealed comparatively good selectivities with respect to many alkali, alkaline earth, transition and heavy metal ions, and could be used in a pH range of 2.5–5.5. It was applied to the direct determination and potentiometric titration of the copper(II) ion.     

Mercury(II) ion-selective polymeric membrane sensor based on a recently synthesized Schiff base

A new polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane electrode that is highly selective to Hg(II) ions was prepared by using bis[5-((4-nitrophenyl)azo salicylaldehyde)] (BNAS) as a suitable neutral carrier. The sensor exhibits a Nernstian response for mercury ions over a wide concentration range (5.0×10⁻²-7.0×10⁻⁷ M) with a slope of 30±1 mV per decade. It has a response time of <10 s and can be used for at least 3 months without any measurable divergence in potential. The electrode can be used in the pH range from 1.0 to 3.5. The proposed sensor shows fairly good discriminating ability towards Hg²⁺ ion in comparison with some hard and soft metals. The electrode was used in the direct determination of Hg²⁺ in aqueous solution and as an indicator electrode in potentiometric titration of mercury ions.     

Electrochemical behavior of membranes of ion-selective electrodes based on complex oxides

Lead-selective film electrodes with solid contact with membranes on the basis of niobates and vanadates of compositions Sr_2.75Pb_0.25La(VO₄)₃, Ba_3.8Pb_0.2Nb₂O₉, Ba_3.5Pb_0.5Nb₂O₉, Pb₃NiNb₂O₉, and Pb₂Nb₂O₇ are constructed and studied. Basic electrochemical characteristics of ion-selective electrodes, such as linearity region and steepness of the electrode function, working pH interval, type of electrode function, and reproducibility are determined. The electrode with a membrane on the basis of Pb₃NiNb₂O₉ is tested and recommended as an indicator in the method of potentiostatic titration. The optimum titrant for assaying ions of lead(II) in solution is potassium chromate.