Electrochemical characterization and application of Ni-RuO2 as a pH sensor for determination of petroleum oil acid number

Electrochemical characterization and application of nickel ruthenium dioxide (Ni-RuO₂) as a pH sensor for the determination of petroleum oil acid number is described. The sensor consists of RuCl₃ thermally decomposed onto the upper side of a polycrystalline nickel electrode at 400 °C in an open furnace. The advantages of the sensor are: (i) easy preparation, (ii) fast response in a large pH range, (iii) high physical and chemical stability, and (iv) excellent reproducibility as determined by the reproducible linear variation of charge transfer resistance (R_ct) as a function of overpotential (η) obtained by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and the Nernstian slope of the electrode potential in a wide range of pH (1.5–12.5) obtained by potentiometric measurements. The potentiometric selectivity coefficients of the sensor toward some anions and cations were evaluated in aqueous solution. The characterized Ni-RuO₂ pH sensor was successfully tested for the determination of petroleum oil acid number.