title: Comparative studies on Tb (III)-selective PVC membrane sensors.
abstract: A new terbium selective sensor based on N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-(2-hydroxyphenylhydroxyphenylimino)-N-phenylbutanamidine (L(1)) and N,N'-bis((1H-indole-3-yl)methylene)butane-1,4 diamine (L(2)) as a ionophore is reported. Effect of various plasticizers; 2-nitrophenyloctylether (o-NPOE), dibutyl butylphosphonate (DBBP), chloronaphthelene (CN), dioctylphthalate (DOP) and tri-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate (TEHP) with anion excluder, potassium tetrakis (p-chloropheny1)borate (KTpClPB) have been studied. The membrane with a composition of ionophore (L(1)):KTpClPB:PVC:o-NPOE (w/w, %) in ratio of 3.0:5.0:30.0:62.0 exhibited enhanced selectivity towards terbium ions (III) in the concentration range of 3.5 x 10(-7) to 1.0x10(-2)M with a detection limit of 1.2 x 10(-7)M and a Nernstian slope (20.0+/-0.5mVdec(-1) activity). The sensors showed the working pH range to be 3.5-7.5 with response time of 11s. The sensor has been found to work satisfactorily in partially non-aqueous media up to 15% (v/v) content of methanol, ethanol or acetonitrile and could be used for a period of 3 months. The selectivity coefficients indicated high selectivity for terbium (III). The fast and stable response, good reproducibility and long-term stability of the sensors were observed. The application of the sensor has been demonstrated in determination of terbium (III) ions in spiked water samples.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee 247 667, India. vinodfcy@iitr.ernet.in
authors.forename: Vinod K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Manoj K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.forename: Ram A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sharma