Macrocyclic derivatives of imidazole as chromoionophores for bismuth(III)/lead(II) pair

Abstract

18-membered diazomacrocycles with imidazole or 4-methylimidazole residue as a part of macrocycle were used as chromoionophores in bismuth(III) and lead(II) dual selective optodes for the first time. Cellulose triacetate membranes doped with macrocyclic chromoionophores are bismuth(III) and lead(II) selective with color change from orange/red to different shades of blue and violet, respectively. Results obtained for model and real samples of bismuth(III) and lead(II) showed that easily accessible and regenerable sensor materials can be used for spectrophotometric and colorimetric detection and determination of bismuth(III) and lead(II). The obtained LOD values for bismuth(III) are 1.63 × 10−7 M and 3.03 × 10−7 M with spectrophotometric and colorimetric detection, respectively, when using optode with imidazole residue. For sensing material with 4-methylimidazole in macroring the lowest detection limits were obtained for lead(II): 2.14 × 10−7 M and 3.99 × 10−7 M with spectrophotometric and digital color analysis detection mode, respectively.