Ion-Selective Electrodes Based on Adamantylcalix[4,8]arenes for the Determination of Alkali Cations

Calix[4,8]arenes bearing adamantyl substituents in the upper rim and ethoxycarbonylmethoxy groups in the lower rim of the macrocycle were proposed as ionophores in membranes of ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) for determining alkali cations. Depending on the number of phenolic fragments (n) in the calixarene molecule, ISEs respond to either sodium (n = 4) or cesium (n = 8) ions. Sensors based on membranes that, along with ionophores, contain tetraphenyl borate ions as a lipophilic additive are selective for Na and Cs ions in the presence of other alkali metals. They exhibit almost theoretical responses over the concentration range from 1 × 10^–4 to 1 × 10^–1 M at pH 5.5–12 for Na-SE and pH 3–11 for Cs-SE, respectively.     

Synthesis and properties of new binuclear nickel(ii) phthalocyanines

New binuclear nickel(ii) phthalonitrile complexes, viz., Ni^II 2,2",9(10),9"(10"),17(18),17"(18"),24(25),24"(25")-tetra(phenylene-1,2-dioxy)bisphthalocyanine and Ni^II 2,2",9(10),9"(10"),17(18),17"(18"),24(25),24"(25")-tetra(4-tert-butylphenylene-1,2-dioxy)bisphthalocyanine, were synthesized. The complexes were characterized by electronic spectroscopy and MALDI—TOF mass spectrometry and studied as active components for membranes of ion-selective electrodes in solutions of dicarboxylic acids.     

Hydrophobic ionic liquids in plasticized membranes of ion-selective eletctrodes

Ionic liquids with substituted imidazole, pyridine, and pyrrolidine cations and hydrophobic anions are studied as ionophores of PVC membranes of ion-selective electrodes plasticized with 2-nitrophenyloctyl ether. These membranes show a response to hydrophobic organic cations. In solutions of cationic surfactants, the slope of the electrode function is close to the theoretical one and the limit of detection does not exceed n × 10⁻⁶ M. Ion-selective electrodes for anions are developed using a trioctylmethylammonium salicylate ionic liquid. The electrode on its basis shows a stable potentiometric response to the salicylate anion in a wide range of concentrations and is characterized by good selectivity in the presence of foreign anions.     

Measuring the solubilities of ionic liquids in water using ion-selective electrodes

Polyvinyl chloride-plasticized membrane ion-selective electrodes (ISE) based on conventional ion-exchangers have been proposed as a cheap universal tool to measure the solubilities of ionic liquids (ILs) in water. They are applicable for ILs with a wide range of solubilities in water, since the linear range of a potentiometric response spans several orders of magnitude. As an example, we have fabricated and tested ISEs for widely used alkylimidazolium ionic liquids. The aqueous solubilities of four typical ILs have been determined at 21 °C: 0.075±0.001 mol l^–1 (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium, BMIm, hexafluorophosphate); 0.018±0.001 mol l^–1 (BMIm bis(triflylimide)); 0.054±0.007 mol l^–1 (1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium, BDMIm, hexafluorophosphate); 0.014±0.001 mol l^–1 (BDMIm bis(triflylimide)).     

Determination of β-Lactam Antibiotics by Potentiometry with Ion-Selective Electrodes

Ion-selective electrodes for antibiotics from the penicillin series, with membranes based on three different classes of ionophores (anion exchangers, aza compounds, and metal phthalocyanines), were proposed. The electrochemical and performance characteristics of the sensors were studied and compared.     

Binuclear Copper(II) Phthalocyanate as a Ionophore for Membrane Anion-Selective Electrodes

The use of a binuclear metal phthalocyanate as an ionophoric component of PVC membranes of ion-selective electrodes was studied. The proposed electrodes based on planar copper(II) hexa(tert-butyl)biphthalocyanate bound via a benzene ring exhibited satisfactory electrochemical properties in solutions of maleic and terephthalic acids.     

Ionic liquid-based miniature electrochemical sensors for the voltammetric determination of catecholamines

Screen-printed electrodes modified with carbon paste that consisted of graphite powder dispersed in ionic liquids (IL) were used for the electrochemical determination of dopamine, adrenaline and dobutamine in aqueous solutions by means of cyclic voltammetry. The IL plays a dual role in modifying compositions, acting both as a binder and chemical modifier (ion-exchanger); ion-exchange analyte pre-concentration increases analytical signal and improves the sensitivity. Calibration graphs are linear in concentration range 3.9 × 10⁻⁶ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁴ M (dopamine), 2.9 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁴ M (adrenaline) and 1.7 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁴ M (dobutamine); detection limits are (1.2 ± 0.1) × 10⁻⁶, (1.3 ± 0.1) × 10⁻⁷ and (5.3 ± 0.1) × 10⁻⁸ M, respectively. Using an additive of Co (III) tetrakis-(tert-butyl)-phthalocyanine leads to the increase of signal and lowering detection limit. Some practical advises concerning both the sensor design and selectivity of catecholamine determination are provided.     

Ion-selective electrodes for the determination of ionic liquids in water using direct potentiometry

Ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) with membranes based on ion exchangers plasticized with o-nitrophenyl octyl ether (NPOE), diethyl sebacate (DES), or dibutyl phthalate (DBP) are used for the determination of ionic liquids (ILs) in water. The membrane composition is optimized with respect to the ion-exchanger concentration and the plasticizer.     

3-(4-Tolylazo)phenylboronic acid as the active component of polyhydroxy compounds-selective electrodes

Ionophoric, extraction, acidic and hydrophobic properties of 3-(4-tolylazo)phenylboronic acid (TAPBA) were studied. Determined K_d value equals to 36±2, pK_a equals to 8.6±0.5. TAPBA extracts dobutamine from water into chloroform and transports it across a bulk chloroform membrane. The recovery is 83% (pH=7.5), the transport rate – (6.5±0.5)×10⁻⁷ mol/h. ¹H and ¹³C NMR data confirm the formation of an 1:1 complex between arylboronic acid and catecholamine. TAPBA was used as electrode-active component of plasticized membrane electrodes with cationic and anionic responses to catecholamines and phenolic acids, respectively. For the diethyl sebacate-plasticized membrane, a slope of electrode function to dobutamine is 56±2 mV/decade; the detection limit is 1.3×10⁻⁵ mol/l; the linear range – 5×10⁻⁵–1×10⁻² mol/l; the working pH-range – 4.8–7.6; the response time – 5–10 s. ISE gives incomplete cationic function to less lipophilic catecholamines. The membrane with cationic additive shows an anionic response to caffeic acid in wide pH range.     

Cobalt(II) porphyrazine as an active component of iodide-selective electrodes

Cobalt(II) porphyrazine is synthesized and studied as an active component of a polyvinyl chloride plasticized membrane ion-selective electrodes (ISEs). It is established that regardless of their structure, ISEs are sensitive to iodide. The introduction to the ISE of an ionic additive, ionic liquid 1,3-dihexadecylimidazolium chloride, significantly improves the electrochemical characteristics: the slope of the electrode function reaches ?(57 ± 1) mV/dec, c_min = 8.3 × 10^–6 M. Solid-state screen-printed electrodes the surfaces of which are modified by a 1: 4 mixture of cobalt(II) porphyrazine and ionic liquid 1,3-dihexadecylimidazolium chloride demonstrate satisfactory electrochemical characteristics: the slope of the electrode function is ?(56 ± 4) mV/dec and c_min = 2.5 × 10^–5 M. The potentiometric selectivity of the ISEs for iodide is studied. It is found that the effect of lipophilic interfering ions is significantly lower for solid state ISEs than for plasticized membrane electrodes.