Liquid membrane ion-selective electrodes for diquat and paraquat

Abstract
Three main types of PVC-liquid membrane ISEs for diquat and paraquat are described. They are based on the crown ether DB30C10 and/or the diquat-paraquat ion pair with tetraphenylborate (DQT.2TPB or PQT.2TPB). With DB30C10-based ISEs (type 1), selectivity for diquat and paraquat over other cations is greatly improved after the addition of DQT.2TPB to the membrane to yield type 2 electrodes. Electrodes based entirely on DQT.2TPB or PQT.2TPB (type 3) also give excellent characteristics with appropriate solvent mediators. Selectivity coefficient data (kpot DQT,B and kpot PQT,B) have been determined with respect to B = Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Ba, ammonium, di-methyl ammonium, anilinium and guanidinium. Although the selectivity coefficients frequently exceeded unity for interferents of singly charged B ions, the modifying influence of the square power term in the selectivity relation enhances the selectivity towards diquat and paraquat. For doubly charged B ions the selectivity coefficients for types 2 and 3 electrodes were normally o-nitrophenyl phenyl ether as the plasticising solvent mediator in the PVC matrix membrane with DB30C10 and DQT.2TPB are recommended as diquat and paraquat ion-selective electrodes, whereas type 3 electrodes with either o-nitrophenyl phenyl ether or o-nitrophenyl octyl ether as the solvent mediator are suitable as paraquat ion-selective electrodes.