The quantification of potassium using a quartz crystal microbalance

N,N'-dibenzyl-4,13-diaza-18-crown-6 (A) and bis[(benzo-15-crown-5)-4'-ylmethyl] pimelate (B) were tested as coatings for two piezoelectric crystals for potassium quantification. Both sensors showed stability, reversibility and sensitivity characteristics that allowed their use in quantitative analysis. However, compound A is much more sensitive to potassium than B. Compound A also shows a larger relative sensitivity for potassium with regard to sodium than B. A pharmaceutical sample of known composition was analysed both by an acoustic wave sensor with a crystal coated with compound A and by conductivity. No statistically significant difference in the median of the results was found (alpha = 0.05), although precision is superior for the conductivity methodology. Performance of the sensor in terms of frequency stability and selectivity was improved by the incorporation of PVC, a plasticizer and a lipophilic salt in the coating composition. Limits of detection found for potassium were 1.92 ppm, or 1.75 ppm for a crystal with a frequency decrease due to coating of 2.9 kHz or 3.9 kHz, respectively. Selectivity coefficients (fixed interference 80 ppm) for potassium over Na, Ca, Al, Zn, Mg, and Fe ranged from 0.103 to 0.332.