A lead (II) selective PVC membrane potentiometric sensor based on a tetraazamacrocyclic ligand

Abstract

A polymeric membrane based Pb(II) selective potentiometric sensor was developed by using 1,3,7,9-tetraaza-2,8-dithia-4,10-dimethyl-6,12-diphenylcyclododeca-4,6,10,12-tetraene (TDDDCT) as an electroactive material along with anion excluder sodium tetraphenylborate (NaTPB) and plasticizer dioctylphthalate (DOP). The best performance in terms of slope, concentration range and response time was exhibited by the membrane having TDDDCT:PVC:DOP:NaTPB in the ratio 3:32:62:3 (w/w%). Potentiometric results show that the developed sensor works well in the concentration range 5.0 × 10−7–1.0 × 10−1 M with a near Nernstian slope of 29.5 (±0.5) mV decade−1. The detection limit is down to 2.5 × 10−7 M. The working pH range of this sensor is 2.8–7.0 and it works well in partially nonaqueous medium up to 25 % (v/v) methanol and ethanol. It exhibits a fast response time of 10 s. Selectivity coefficient values of various interfering ions were determined by the fixed interference method (FIM). The sensor reveals good selectivity for Pb(II) ions over other metal ions investigated. The developed sensor is used in the determination of lead in ‘Eveready battery waste’ and as an indicator electrode in the potentiometric titration of Pb(II) against EDTA.