Ion-selective carbon paste electrode based on tetraethyl thiuram disulfide for copper(II) and mercury(II)

A novel potentiometric screen-printed electrode based on crown ethers/nano manganese oxide/Nafion composite for trace level determination of copper ion in biological fluids

Copper levels in biological fluids are associated with Wilson's, Alzheimer's, Menke's, and Parkinson's diseases, making them good biochemical markers for these diseases. This study introduces a miniaturized screen-printed electrode (SPE) for the potentiometric determination of copper(II) in some biological fluids. Manganese(III) oxide nanoparticles (Mn2O3-NPs), dispersed in Nafion, are drop-casted onto a graphite/PET substrate, serving as the ion-to-electron transducer material. The solid-contact material is then covered by a selective polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane incorporated with 18-crown-6 as a neutral ion carrier for the selective determination of copper(II) ions. The proposed electrode exhibits a Nernstian response with a slope of 30.2 ± 0.3 mV/decade (R2 = 0.999) over the linear concentration range 5.2 × 10-9 - 6.2 × 10-3 mol/l and a detection limit of 1.1 × 10-9 mol/l (69.9 ng/l). Short-term potential stability is evaluated using constant current chronopotentiometry (CP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). A significant improvement in the electrode capacitance (91.5 μF) is displayed due to the use of Mn2O3-NPs as a solid contact. The presence of Nafion, with its high hydrophobicity properties, eliminates the formation of the thin water layer, facilitating the ion-to-electron transduction between the sensing membrane and the conducting substrate. Additionally, it enhances the adhesion of the polymeric sensing membrane to the solid-contact material, preventing membrane delamination and increasing the electrode's lifespan. The high selectivity, sensitivity, and potential stability of the proposed miniaturized electrode suggests its use for the determination of copper(II) ions in human blood serum and milk samples. The results obtained agree fairly well with data obtained by flameless atomic absorption spectrometry.

Highly selective, sensitive and fast-responsive fluorescent sensor for Hg(2+)

A phenylamine-oligothiophene-based fluorescent sensor 2TBEA was reported. This sensor exhibited highly selective, sensitive and rapid detection of Hg(2+) ion in THF/H2O (7/3, v/v) solution through fluorescence quenching. The detection was unaffected by the coexistence of other competitive metal cations including Na(+), K(+), Ag(+), Ca(2+), Fe(3+), Al(3+), Co(2+), Cu(2+), Ni(2+), Zn(2+), Pb(2+), Cd(2+), Fe(2+) and Cr(3+). A1:1 binding ratio for 2TBEA - Hg(2+) was demonstrated by Job's plot and mole-ratio curves. The coordination process was chemically reversible with EDTA. The detection limit was evaluated to be as low as 6.164×10(-8)M.

A new electrochemical sensor based on task-specific ionic liquids-modified palm shell activated carbon for the determination of mercury in water samples

In this study, a potentiometric sensor composed of palm shell activated carbon modified with trioctylmethylammonium thiosalicylate (TOMATS) was used for the potentiometric determination of mercury ions in water samples. The proposed potentiometric sensor has good operating characteristics towards Hg (II), including a relatively high selectivity; a Nernstian response to Hg (II) ions in a concentration range of 1.0 × 10(-9) to 1.0 × 10(-2) M, with a detection limit of 1 × 10(-10) M and a slope of 44.08 ± 1.0 mV/decade; and a fast response time (~5 s). No significant changes in electrode potential were observed when the pH was varied over the range of 3-9. Additionally, the proposed electrode was characterized by good selectivity towards Hg (II) and no significant interferences from other cationic or anionic species.

Synthesis and characteristics of a novel artificial hapten using the copper mercaptide of penicillenic acid from penicillin G for immunoassay of heavy metal ions

In this paper, we describe the synthesis of a novel copper ion hapten using the copper mercaptide of penicillenic acid (CMPA) derived from penicillin. Results from tests with immune rabbits indicate that: (i) A new antigen synthesized with CMPA has good stability and is safe for immunizing animals with no toxic phenomena being found in animal experiments; (ii) the immunogenic antigen (CMPA-BSA) can stimulate the immune system to produce specific antibodies with high titrations, up to 150000; and (iii) antibodies in antisera showed higher affinity to OVA-GSH-CuCl than OVA-GSH, which indicates that the antibodies have specific affinity towards copper ions. These results confirm that the novel hapten and relevant antigen for copper ion have been successfully synthesized, giving progress towards an immunoassay for copper ions in environmental and food samples.

Carbon paste electrodes modified with biosolids, soils and biocomposites utilized to study the interaction between organic matter and copper

Carbon paste electrodes (CPEs) modified with a biosolid, two types of soils with different amounts of organic matter (OM), and two biocomposites (soils mixed with a biosolid) were used to assess and compare the Cu(II) ion retention properties of the organic matter contained in the samples. The accumulation of Cu(II) on the surface of the modified carbon paste electrodes (MCPEs) was performed under open-circuit conditions. When comparing the response of the MCPEs while assessing parameters such as pH, preconcentration time, and adsorption/desorption capacity, it was found that the reaction mechanism of the two soils is different between the soils and dissimilar from the biosolid; while the biocomposites show reaction mechanisms that are intermediate between those of the soils and the biosolid. This was proven with the use of infrared spectroscopy, since the FTIR spectra show similarities between the two soils and significant differences between the soils and the biosolid.

Developments in the Field of Conducting and Non-conducting Polymer Based Potentiometric Membrane Sensors for Ions Over the Past Decade

Many research studies have been conducted on the use of conjugated polymers in the construction of chemical sensors including potentiometric, conductometric and amperometric sensors or biosensors over the last decade. The induction of conductivity on conjugated polymers by treating them with suitable oxidizing agents won Heeger, MacDiarmid and Shirakawa the 2000 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Common conjugated polymers are poly(acetylene)s, poly(pyrrole)s, poly(thiophene)s, poly(terthiophene)s, poly(aniline)s, poly(fluorine)s, poly(3-alkylthiophene)s, polytetrathiafulvalenes, polynapthalenes, poly(p-phenylene sulfide), poly(p-phenylenevinylene)s, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), polyparaphenylene, polyazulene, polyparaphenylene sulfide, polycarbazole and polydiaminonaphthalene. More than 60 sensors for inorganic cations and anions with different characteristics based on conducting polymers have been reported. There have also been reports on the application of non-conducting polymers (nCPs), i.e. PVC, in the construction of potentiometric membrane sensors for determination of more than 60 inorganic cations and anions. However, the leakage of ionophores from the membranes based on these polymers leads to relatively lower life times. In this article, we try to give an overview of Solid-Contact ISE (SCISE), Single-Piece ISE (SPISE), Conducting Polymer (CP)-Based, and also non-conducting polymer PVC-based ISEs for various ions which their difference is in the way of the polymer used with selective membrane. In SCISEs and SPISEs, the plasticized PVC containing the ionophore and ionic additives govern the selectivity behavior of the electrode and the conducting polymer is responsible of ion-to-electron transducer. However, in CPISEs, the conducting polymer layer is doped with a suitable ionophore which enhances the ion selectivity of the CP while its redox response has to be suppressed.

Schiff's Bases and Crown Ethers as Supramolecular Sensing Materials in the Construction of Potentiometric Membrane Sensors

Ionophore incorporated PVC membrane sensors are well-established analyticaltools routinely used for the selective and direct measurement of a wide variety of differentions in complex biological and environmental samples. Potentiometric sensors have someoutstanding advantages including simple design and operation, wide linear dynamic range,relatively fast response and rational selectivity. The vital component of such plasticizedPVC members is the ionophore involved, defining the selectivity of the electrodes' complexformation. Molecular recognition causes the formation of many different supramolecules.Different types of supramolecules, like calixarenes, cyclodextrins and podands, have beenused as a sensing material in the construction of ion selective sensors. Schiff's bases andcrown ethers, which feature prominently in supramolecular chemistry, can be used assensing materials in the construction of potentiometric ion selective electrodes. Up to now,more than 200 potentiometric membrane sensors for cations and anions based on Schiff's bases and crown ethers have been reported. In this review cation binding and anioncomplexes will be described. Liquid membrane sensors based on Schiff's bases and crownethers will then be discussed.

Mercury(II) ion-selective polymeric membrane sensors for analysis of mercury in hazardous wastes

Two novel potentiometric sensors that are highly selective to Hg2+ ions are described. These are based on the use of 5,5'-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) and tricyclazole (TCZ) as neutral carriers in plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) membranes. Fast Nernstian responses are obtained for Hg2+ ions over the concentration ranges 7.0 x 10(-6) - 1.0 x 10(-2) and 7.7 x 10(-6) - 1.0 x 10(-2) mol l(-1) at pH 1.8 - 3.3 with lower detection limits of 5.0 x 10(-6) and 5.6 x 10(-6) mol l(-1) (approximately 1 microh ml(-1)) and calibration slopes of 30.0 and 29.7 mV decade(-1) with DTNB- and TCZ-based membrane sensors, respectively. Validation of the assay method reveals good performance characteristics, including long life span, good selectivity for Hg2+ ions over a wide variety of other metal ions, long term response stability, and high reproducibility. Applications for direct determination of mercury in hazardous wastes including dental amalgam, mercury bulbs, and fluorescent lamps give results with good correlation with data obtained using cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry.

A Copper(II)-selective PVC Membrane Electrode Based on a Macrocyclic Ligand, 1,2,5,6,8,11-Hexaazacyclododeca-7,12-dione-2,4,8,10-tetraene

An attempt has been made to develop a highly selective Cu2+-ion selective electrode based on a poly(vinyl chloride) based sensor using 1,2,5,6,8,11-hexaazacyclododeca-7,12-dione-2,4,8,10-tetraene as ionophore with 61.5% DBP in the presence of 29% PVC, 4.5% ionophore and 5% NaTBP as an anion excluder. The sensor exhibits a near Nernstian potential response of 29.5 +/- 0.3 mV per decade over a wide concentration range (2.0 x 10(-7) - 1 x 10(-1) M) with a detection limit of 8.1 x 10(-8) M between pH 3 - 11 with a fast response time of < 5 s. The selectivity coefficient values, as determined by the matched potential method (MPM), indicate excellent selectivity for Cu(II) ions over a large number of ions. The proposed sensor exhibits an adequate shelf life (4 - 5 months) with good reproducibility. The quantification of Cu(II) in electroplating wastewater and various brands of Indian tea was successfully achieved using the proposed sensor.

8-hydroxyquinoline based neutral tripodal ionophore as a copper (II) selective electrode and the effect of remote substitutents on electrode properties

New PVC membrane ion selective electrodes based on 1,3,5-Tris(8-quinolinoxymethyl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene (MO8HQ) are reported. The basic sensing material belongs to the group of tripodal ionophores. Also their derivatives prepared by placing suitable substitutents at fifth position of 8-oxine moiety, i.e, 1,3,5-Tris(5-chloro-8-quinolinoxymethyl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene (5CHQ), 1,3,5-Tris(5-benzoyl-8-quinolinoxymethyl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene (5BHQ) and 1,3,5-Tris[(5-phenylhydroxymethylene)-8-quinolinoxymethyl]-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene (HYD-8HQ) ionophores have also been used to make copper-selective membrane electrodes. Among all the four electrodes, MO8HQ and HYD-8HQ ionophores based electrodes show excellent response towards Cu (II) ions. The electrodes having composition 33% PVC, 4% MO8HQ and 63% dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and 33% PVC, 6% HYD-8HQ, 63% dibutyl phthalate (DBP) exhibit a good Nernstian response to Cu (II) ions in the range of 1.0 x 10(-6) to 1 x 10(-1) M. The electrode shows a reasonably fast response time of 15 s. The effect of pH and electrode response is also reported. It shows good selectivity for Cu (II) ions in comparison to heavy metal ions, transition metal ions and for alkali and alkaline earth metal ions. The electrode response and selectivity remains unchanged for at least 5 months. The electrode can be used as an indicator electrode in the potentiometric titration of Cu (II) ions with EDTA.

Potentiometric Carbon Paste Sensors for Lead(II) Based on Dithiodibenzoic and Mercaptobenzoic Acids

Dithiodibenzoic (DTB) acid and mercaptobenzoic (MB) acid were studied to characterize their abilities as modifier agents for lead(II) sensors. For both sensors, the best results were obtained with modified carbon paste electrodes with 24.1% of ligand. The pH influence on the potentiometric response was studied. The selectivity coefficients for both modified electrodes were tabulated. A potentiometric sensor based on DTB acid exhibited a more sensitive and selective response to lead ions than an MB electrode. The limits of detection for the DTB and MB electrodes were very similar, 5.01 x 10(-8) M and 3.98 x 10(-8) M, respectively, for lead(II) activity. The DTB sensor was applied to lead(II) ion determination in real samples and as an indicator electrode in potentiometric titrations. Natural and commercial humic acids were titrated using the DTB electrode to estimate the stability constant between these organic compounds and the lead(II) ions with successful results.