Synthetic membranes (vesicles) in inorganic ion analysis: a review

Vesicles are structures of amphiphile molecules occurring through a self-aggregation process at the molecular or nano scale level with a large structural variety and diverse properties providing a reaction environment for chemical reactions that resembles that of natural systems. Their high versatility and recognized utility in various applications have triggered a interdisciplinary scientific endeavor over their formation, characterization and potential applications with impressive results. However, in the vastness of applications surrounding vesicular structures, their utility in analytical chemistry has only received minor attention. Notwithstanding, studies demonstrating their potential as colorimetric or fluorescence sensors, extraction solvents of inorganic ions or their chelates and stationary phase modifiers in liquid chromatography have appeared. To this end, this article aims to present for the first time the analytical chemistry aspects behind the use of vesicle media with special emphasis on the detection and determination of inorganic ions and encourage further research on this promising field of analytical science.