Magnetic removal of nitrate ions from aqueous solution using amino-silica coated magnetic nanoparticles modified by oxovanadium(IV) porphyrin

In this study, we have treated nitrate contaminated groundwater using modified magneticnanoparticles. The modification of magnetite nanoparticles were conducted by 3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane followed by oxovanadium(IV) porphyrin in order to enhance the removal of nitrate ions. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) were used to characterize the synthesized nanoparticles. The effect of pH, contact time, sorbent dosage and some co-existing anions present in aqueous solutions were investigated. The isothermal data of nitrate sorption conformed well to the Langmuir model and the maximum sorption capacity of nanosorbent for nitrate was 76.92 mg.g-1. Thermodynamic study indicated that the adsorption is endothermic and spontaneous. Regeneration of nitrate adsorbed material could be be possible by NaOH and the modified magnetic nanoparticles exhibited good reusability. The proposed system can provide a fast and efficient removal of the nitrate ion by using just an external magnetic field. The competitive adsorption tests verified that, this system has good adsorption selectivity for nitrate ions.

Thiocyanate Ion-Selective PVC Membrane Electrode

A potentiometric selective sensor based on trinuclear chromium(III) complex as a novel ionophore for the thiocyanateselective electrode is reported. The sensor displays a near Nernstian slope of 57 ± 2 mV per decade, over a wide pH range 3 - 11. The working concentration range of the electrode is 1.10-5 – 1.10-1 mol/l with a detection limit of 5.10-6 mol/l. The sensor has a response time of 20 s and can be used for at least 6 months without any considerable fluctuation of the potential. The selectivity coefficients determined at using the fixed interference method indicate a good discriminating ability towards other anions. The prepared sensor was applied as an indicator electrode in the titration of thiocyanate with Ag+.

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.