Highly Selective Potentiometric Oxalate Ion Sensors
characteristics based on Ni(II) bis-(m-aminoacetophe-
none)ethylenediamine (NiL). The electrode was inves-
tigated for the study of selectivity and sensitivity to ox-
alate ion in the presence of the various other ions. The
electrode was used for different aspects of ion selective
electrode study. An oxalate sensor showed improved
workable pH range, fast response time and reasonable
reproducibility as compared to previously reported ox-
alate selective electrodes.12-14
analysis, IR (Figure 2) and UV-visible spectra. The
complex Ni(II) bis-(m-aminoacetophenone)ethylenedia-
mine (NiL) showed the best response as compared to
other transition metal complexes of L as an oxalate se-
lective electrode; hence it was used for further studies.
Experimental
Reagents and apparatus
Figure 1 (a) Structure of the ligand L and (b) structure of the
Reagent grade DBP (di-butyl phthalate), DOP
(di-octyl phthalate), o-NPOE (o-nitrophenyl octylether)
were purchased from Merck. High molecular weight
PVC powder, THF and cation excluder MTOAC
(methyl trioctylammonium chloride) and metal salts
were procured from Sigma-Aldrich. All the reagents
were of highest pure grade and used without further pu-
rification. Standard solutions were freshly prepared in
deionized water.
The complexes used in the electrode preparation
were synthesized in the laboratory and then were char-
acterized. The C, H, N were analyzed on a Carlo-Erba
1106 elemental analyzer. IR spectra (KBr) were re-
corded on a Perkin Elmer FTIR spectrum BX-II spec-
trophotometer. Electron impact mass spectrum was re-
corded on Joel-MS Route mass spectrometer. NMR
spectra were recorded on BBO_proton DPX-300 spec-
trometer and the electronic spectra were recorded on
Shimadzu UV mini-1240 spectrophotometer.
complex NiL.
Electrode preparation
The membranes for ion selective electrodes were
prepared according to Thomas and co-worker.15 An ox-
alate selective electrode was prepared by dissolving the
mixture of fixed amount of ionophore, PVC powder,
plasticizer and cation excluder in the w ratio of 4%
ionophore (complexes), 31% PVC, 64% o-NPOE and
1% MTOAC in 5 mL of THF. The mixture was kept at
room temperature for the solvent to evaporate slowly so
as to obtain a thin membrane. The membrane was then
cut and pasted to one end of Pyrex glass tube. The tube
was then filled with internal filling and external solution
of potassium oxalate for preconditioning for 24 h before
use.
Potentiometric study of the electrode were carried
out by the following cell assembly: Hg-Hg2Cl2 KCl
(saturated)|internal solution 1.0×10- 2 mol•L- 1 K2C2O4/
PVC membrane|test solution|Hg2Cl2-Hg, KCl (satu-
rated).
Potential differences between the ion selective elec-
trodes and the double junction calomel electrodes were
measured with Systronics type 335 digital pH, mV me-
ter at room temperature.
Synthesis of ionophore
Bis-(m-aminoacetophenone)ethylenediamine ligand
(L) was synthesized by mixing an ethanolic solution of
m-aminoacetophenone (0.02 mol) and ethylendiamine
(0.01 mol). The mixture was refluxed for 3 h. On cool-
ing the reaction mixture a yellow coloured precipitate
was obtained. The precipitate was then filtered, washed
and recrystallized from methanol. Yield 85%, m.p. 120
℃; MS m/z: 295 (100); 1H NMR (DMSO, 300 MHz) δ:
7.1 (s, 6H), 6.8 (d, 2H), 5.3 (s, 2H), 2.5 (s, 1H); IR (KBr)
Several membranes incorporating NiL as carrier was
made to study the behavior of best optimized membrane
and the one which generated the best potentiometric
response was further studied in detail for selectivity, pH
range, and the determination of oxalate ion in the water
samples.
-
1
ν: 3385, 3363, 3279, 1632, 1551 cm . Anal. calcd for
C18H22N4: C 73.47, H 7.48, N 19.04; found C 73.56, H
7.53, N 19.12.
Results and discussion
Synthesis of complex of ligand (l)
Ni(NO3)2•3H2O (0.001 mol) was dissolved in etha-
nol. To this solution hot ethanolic solution of L (0.002
mol) was added. The reaction mixture was refluxed for
12 h at 80 ℃. On cooling green coloured precipitate
was obtained. It was filtered and crystallized. Yield 68%,
m.p. 235 ℃; IR (KBr) ν: 3351, 3369, 1605, 1366, 1148
Optimization of the membrane
The selection of a suitable carrier is the most impor-
tant phenomena in recognition mechanism of the ana-
lyte ion, but some other aspects such as use of mem-
brane additive, plasticizers16,17 and polymer matrix must
not be ignored. The sensitivity, linearity and selectivity
for a given ionophore depend significantly on the mem-
brane composition, nature and the amount of additives
used with respect to the taken ionophore.18 This oxalate
-
1
cm . Anal. calcd for C18H22N4Ni: C 61.24, H 6.23, N
15.87; found C 61.31, H 6.01, N 15.92.
Figure 1 shows the structure of the complex formed
which was characterized and confirmed by elemental
Chin. J. Chem. 2010, 28, 1140— 1146
© 2010 SIOC, CAS, Shanghai, & WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
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