Novel Ag+ ion-selective electrodes based on two new mixed azathioether crowns containing a 1, 10-phenanthroline sub-unit

Novel polymeric membrane (PME) and coated graphite (CGE) silver-selective electrodes based on two recently synthesized mixed azathioether crowns containing a 1,10-phenanthroline sub-unit were prepared. The electrodes reveal a Nernstian behavior over quite wide Ag+ ion concentration ranges with a very low limits of detection (LOD) (i.e. down to 1.0 x 10(-8) M for CGEs and 8.0 x 10(-7) M for PMEs). The potentiometric responses are independent of the pH of the test solution in the pH range 3.0-7.0. The electrodes possess advantages of low resistance, very fast response time, relatively long lifetimes and, especially, good selectivities relative to a wide variety of other cations. The electrodes were used, as indicator electrodes, in the potentiometric titration of silver ion and in the determination of Ag+ in waste water, photographic emulsion and radiographic and photographic films. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.