Selective potentiometric determination of Bi(III) with a coated-wire electrode

A bismuth-selective electrode based on the chlorobismuthate(III) salt of Aliquat 336 is described. The electrode gives nearly linear response in the bismuth concentration range 10⁻¹–10⁻⁴M. The optimum solution conditions for operation of the electrode have been determined together with possible interference effects. The application of the electrode to analysis of samples containing large amounts of other metals is illustrated by the determination of bismuth in pharmaceuticals. The electrode is shown to give results by direct potentiometry and the standard-addition method which differ from atomic-absorption results by not more than 2%.