Broad-Range Optical pH Sensor Based on Binary Mixed-Indicator Doped Sol-Gel Film and Application of Artificial Neural Network

Abstract

In this article, we constructed a pH optical sensor based on m-cresol purple/bromocresol green mixed indicators. The sensor possessed different behaviors at various pH values from ?1.04 to 8.70. The observed behaviors were modeled by means of a PC-feed-forward artificial neural network (ANN) with back-propagation training algorithm. The resulting ANN model was used to predict pH values of new measured spectra from unknown solutions. The results showed very good agreement between true and predicted pH values. The sensor revealed no leaching and excellent reversibility. Other advantages of the sensor include rapid response time, long-term stability, reversibility, high sensitivity, and little hysteresis effect.     

Thiocyanate-Selective PVC Membrane Electrode Based on Copper and Nickel Complexes of Para-tolualdehydesemicarbazone as Carrier

Abstract

Copper(Cu) and nickel(Ni) complexes of para-tolualdehydesemicarbazone (pTSC) were used as carrier for an thiocyanate ion–selective electrode. The Ni(II)pTSC demonstrated higher selectivity for thiocyanate ions with better performance than Cu(II)pTSC as carrier. The electrode shows a Nernstian slope of 58.8 ± 0.3 mV decade^?1 with improved linear range of 1 × 10^?2 to 1 × 10^?7 M and a low detection limit of 1.25 × 10^?7 M in the pH range of 3–10, giving a relatively fast response and reversibility within 10 s. The selectivity coefficient was calculated using matched potential method. The electrode worked well for nearly 3 months. The response mechanism is discussed by UV-visible spectroscopic technique. The electrodes were used in potentiometric titration of thiocyanate with silver nitrate. Further, the electrode was successfully applied to determine the thiocyanate content in physiological fluids.     

Homogeneous Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Immunoassay for the Determination of Zearalenone

This study demonstrates the use of antigen-antibody binding for the detection of zearalenone. Based on the principle of the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) phenomenon between antibody and antigen, an immunoassay, in which zearalenone coupled with the anti-zearalenone antibody, was developed, optimized, and applied. Owing to intrinsic fluorescence properties in basic pH conditions with the optimal cationic surfactant, anti-zearalenone and zearalenone played roles as the respective donor and acceptor in the FRET immunoassay. As the concentration of analyte increased, the antigen/antibody emission intensity ratio (I _430 nm/I _350 nm) was enhanced due to larger amounts of zearalenone/anti-zearalenone complexes. This assay, based on the ratio of intensities (I _430 nm/I _350 nm), displayed high specificity and sensitivity with a detection limit of 0.8 ng mL^?1 for zearalenone. The results obtained from analysis of spiked wheat grain samples were found to be in good agreement with those obtained by employing a direct competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The label-free, noncompetitive, and homogeneous FRET immunoassay strategy served as a powerful tool for the simple, rapid, and sensitive quantitative determination of zearalenone in food and feed matrices.     

Kinetic Potentiometric Determination of some Thiols with Iodide Ion‐Sensitive Electrode

Abstract

This paper describes a kinetic potentiometric method for the determination of thiols (RSH): l‐cysteine (cys), N‐acetyl‐l‐cysteine (NAC), l‐glutathione (glu), and d‐penicillamine (pen). The proposed method is based on the reaction of formation the sparingly soluble salts, RSAg, between RSH and Ag⁺ ions. During this reaction potential‐time curves were recorded by using an electrochemical cell with commercial iodide selective electrode. The rectilinear calibration graphs are obtained in the RSH concentration range from 1.0×10^?5 to 1.0×10^?3 M. The applicability of the proposed method was demonstrated by determination of chosen compounds in pharmaceutical dosage forms.     

Erbium(III) PVC Membrane Ion-Selective Sensor based on 4-(2-Thiazolylazo)resorcinal

Abstract

4-(2-Thiazolylazo)resorcinol (TR) was used as a new compound to play the role of an excellent ion carrier in the fabrication of an Er(III) membrane electrode. The electrode shows a very good selectivity toward Er(III) ions over a wide variety of cations, including alkali, alkaline earth, transition, and heavy-metal ions. The proposed sensor exhibits a Nernstian behavior (with slope of 19.6 ± 0.6 mV per decade) over a wide concentration range (1.0 × 10^?6 to 1.0 × 10^?2 M). The detection limit of the sensor is 6.6 × 10^?7 M. It has a very short response time, in the whole concentration range (～10 s), and can be used for at least 12 weeks in the pH range of 2.8–9.3. The proposed sensor was successfully applied as an indicator electrode for the potentiometric titration of a Er(III) solution, with EDTA. It was also successfully applied to the F^? ion determination in some mouthwashing solutions.     

Potentiometry and Potentiometric Titrations with the Hydrogen Electrode in Tetramethylene Sulfone

Abstract

Direct potentiometry in cells without liquid junction was used to study solutions of six acids in tetramethylene sulfone. The hydrogen electrode was found to be reversible and gave reproducible potentials in this solvent vs. a silver-silver chloride reference electrode. Titrations of the acids were accomplished with these same electrodes.     

Differential Kinetic Determination of Ketone Mixtures

Abstract

A method for the determination of binary ketone mixtures is described which is based on the differential reaction rates of ketones in a large excess of hydroxylamine hydrochloride. The reactions are followed with a pH stat. For mixtures containing ca. 10^?5 moles of ketone, a relative error and precision of 1% was obtained if the rate constants differed by a factor of 5, and 3% if the rate constants differed by 3.     

Design of the Fluoride Ion-Selective Electrode as Tubular Detector for Flow Injection Analysis

ABSTRACT

Design of the fluoride ion-selective electrode (FISE) as the tubular detector used in the flow injection analysis (FIA) has been described. Among other things, this design makes it possible to use various internal contacts. The effect of pH on peak height and detection limit in the pH range from 2.8 to 8.0 has been examined. The effect of flow rate and sample injection volume on peak height and range of linear response has also been examined. The flow rates range from 0.56 mL/min to 4.05 mL/min, while the injection volumes are 100 and 200 μL. The optimum conditions are carrier solution (0.1 M KNO₃ buffer pH 4 and 10^-6 M NaF), flow rate 1.54 mL/min and sample injection volume 100 μL.

Applicability of the FISE as the tubular detector in determination of Fe(III)-ions and AI(III)-ions by flow infection analysis has been examined at pH values of 2.8 and 3.4.     

Spectrophotometric Study and Potentiometric Titration between Sulphite and Nitrite Ions Using Acktaldehyde Complex of Nitroprusside as a Carrier

Abstract

A complex between sodium nitroprusside (NP) and acetaldehyde of 1:1 in aqueous solution of pH 10 has been prepared and used as an analytical reagent for the spectrophotometric determination of sulphite and nitrite ions. Nitrite ion can be titrated against sulphite ion and vise versa in equivalent amounts with high accuracy in the presence of the acetaldehyde complex of nitroprusside as a carrier using a potentiometric titration technique.     

Preliminary Studies of a Bacterial Sulfate Electrode

Abstract

A bacterial electrode for sulfate was developed by coupling a strain of the bacterium Desulfovibrio desulfuricans with a sulfide selective electrode. This bacterium reduces sulfate to sulfide by a complex multistep enzymatic reaction sequence. The response of this sensor to sulfate is Nernstian in the concentration range of 4 × 10^?5 to 7 × 10^?4 M. The electrode functions for a period up to 10 days when stored in growth medium under a nitrogen atmosphere. However, it is necessary to keep the sensor in an oxygen-free environment at all times, because oxygen irreversibly inhibits the required enzymes. Although this limits the practical utility of this sensor, alternative configurations for a more practical analytical system are proposed.