[Cu(L)](NO3)2 (L=4,7‐Bis(3‐aminopropyl)‐1‐thia‐4,7‐diazacyclononane) as a Suitable Ionophore for Construction of Thiocyanate‐Selective Electrodes and Their Use in Determination of Urinary and Salivary Thiocyanate Concentration

The construction, performance characteristics, and application of polymeric membrane (PME) and coated graphite (CGE) thiocyanate‐selective electrodes are reported. The electrodes were prepared by incorporating the complex Cu(L)](NO₃)₂ (L=4,7‐bis(3‐aminopropyl)‐1‐thia‐4,7‐diazacyclononane) into a plasiticized poly(vinyl chloride) membrane. The influence of membrane composition, pH of test solution, and foreign ions were investigated. The electrodes reveal Nernstian behavior over a wide SCN^? ion concentration range (1.0×10^?6–1.0×10^?1 M for PME and 5.0×10^?7–1.0×10^?2 M for CGE) and show fast dynamic response times of 15 s and lower. The proposed sensors show high selectivity towards thiocyanate over several common organic and inorganic anions. They were successfully applied to the direct determination of thiocyanate in urine and saliva of smokers and nonsmokers, and as an indicator electrode in titration of Ag⁺ ions with thiocyanate.