A Novel Hg(II) PVC Membrane Sensor Based on Simple Ionophore Ethylenediamine Bis‐Thiophenecarboxaldehyde

Abstract

A mercury (II) ion‐selective polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane sensor based on ethylenediamine bisthiophenecarboxaldehyde (EDBT) as a novel nitrogen‐ and sulfur‐containing sensing material was successfully developed. The ionophore was produced through Schiff's base formation between ethylenediamine and 2‐thiophenecarboxaldehyde. These two reagents have the advantages of low cost and simple chemical compounds. Ortho‐nitro phenyl pentyl ether (o‐NPPE) as solvent and sodium tetraphenyl borate (NaTPB) as a lipophilic salt were chosen. The sensor exhibited a good linear response of 30.0±0.4 mV per decade within the concentration range of 10−7–10−2 and a detection limit of 7.0×10−8 mol L−1 Hg(II). The sensor showed good selectivity and fast response for the mercury (II) ion with respect to some alkali, alkaline earth, transition, and heavy metal ions. The EDBT–based sensor was suitable for aqueous solutions of pH range from 2.0 to 4.5. It can be used for about 3 months without any considerable divergence in potential. The formation constant of ionophore complex with Hg(II) ion was calculated by using the segmented sandwich membrane method. The structure of both the ionophore and its Hg(II) complex were examined using infrared spectra and elemental analysis. The proposed sensor was applied for the determination of Hg(II) content in some dental amulgum alloys and as an indicator electrode for potentiometric titration of Hg(II) ion with EDTA solution, as well as with I−, OH−, and IO3 − ions. In addition, the solubility products of the previous ions were determined by using this sensor.