Neutral carrier-based ion-selective electrode with similar sensitivity to different monovalent cations as a detector in ion chromatography

Addressing the Detection of Ammonium Ion in Environmental Water Samples via Tandem Potentiometry-Ion Chromatography

An analytical methodology for detecting ammonium ion (NH4 +) in environmental water through potentiometry-ion chromatography (IC) in tandem is presented here. A multielectrode flow cell is implemented as a potentiometric detector after chromatographic separation of cations in the sample. The electrodes are fabricated via miniaturized all-solid-state configuration, using a nonactin-based plasticized polymeric membrane as the sensing element. The overall analytical setup is based on an injection valve, column, traditional conductometric detector, and new potentiometric detector (in that order), permitting the characterization of the analytical performance of the potentiometric detector while validating the results. The limit of detection was found to be ca. 3 × 10-7 M NH4 + concentration after linearization of the potentiometric response, and intra- and interelectrode variations of <10% were observed. Importantly, interference from other cations was suppressed in the tandem potentiometry-IC, and thus, the NH4 + content in fresh- and seawater samples from different locations was successfully analyzed. This analytical technology demonstrated a great potential for the reliable monitoring of NH4 + at micromolar levels, in contrast to the conductivity detector and previously reported NH4 + potentiometric sensors functioning in batch mode or even coupled with IC. Additionally, the suitability of the potentiometric cell for selective multi-ion analysis in the same sample, i.e., Na+, NH4 +, and K+ in water, has been proven.

Ion chromatography detector based on solid-state ion-selective electrode array

A variety of neutral carrier type ionophores for monovalent cations were employed to prepare solid-state cation-selective electrodes (SSEs) for use as a detector in single-column ion chromatography (IC). The polyurethane-based pseudoreference electrode made it possible to assemble an array type SSE detector for IC. An SSE-based detector provides not only the overall chromatogram for the separated ion species (monensin methyl ester-nonactin-based membrane), but also the enhanced chromatogram for specified ions of interest (valinomycin as K+ and nonactin for NH4+). This feature makes it possible to perform highly quantitative analysis with low detection limits even if the separation efficiency of the ion-exchange is not sufficient. Since SSE-based IC detectors are easily miniaturized and replaceable at low cost, they are an ideal component of a portable IC system.