Highly sensitive carbon paste electrode modified with a synthesized ferrocenyl Schiff base for trace determination of Ce(III) in real samples

Abstract

AbstractA recently new synthesized Schiff base was investigated to determine its capability as a modifier in carbon paste matrix to construct a potentiometric cation sensor. The developed modified carbon paste sensor under the optimized conditions reveals a Nernstian slope of 19.4 mV/decade to cerium(III) from 7.5 × 10−9 to 1.5 × 10−3 M and a low detection limit of 5.4 × 10−9 M. The specifications of the sensor were investigated according to the carbon paste composition, appropriate temperature and pH range, selectivity, and applicability. The sensor possesses a stable and short response time of 5 s. It represents many advantages such as feasible construction, renewability, wide determination range, high selectivity to Ce(III) ion, low limit of detection. The sensor was successfully carried out as an indicator electrode in potentiometric titration and determination of cerium(III) ion in mineral and spring water samples. The temperature dependence of the sensor potential was tested, and it was concluded that the sensor has a very low thermal coefficient in the temperature range of 15–55°C.