New potentiometric screen-printed sensors for determination of homologous sodium alkylsulfates

• Homemade potentiometric screen-printed sensors were developed for determination of homologous sodium alkylsulfates in water samples. The optimization of carbon ink composition was performed.
• An ionic associates of sodium dodecylsulfate and cetylpyridinium chloride or cationic complexes of copper (II) with some organic reagents were used as electrode-active compounds of sensors selective to anionic surfactants.
• The basic physical and chemical characteristics of tubular and screen-printed surfactant sensors were defined.
• Shows high sensitivity and lowest detection limit of sodium alkylsulfates (2.5 × 10−7 M).

New home-made potentiometric screen-printed sensors (SPSs) based on ionic associates of sodium dodecylsulfate (DDS) and cetylpyridinium chloride (CP) or cationic complexes of copper (II) with some organic reagents (N,N′-bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine (Salen), 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen) and α,α′-dipyridyl (Dipyr)) were developed for the quantitative determination of homologous sodium alkylsulfates in a wide concentration range 5 × 10−7 to 1 × 10−2 (5 × 10−4) M. The low detection limit of homologous sodium alkylsulfates was 2.5 × 10−7 M. The electrochemical behavior and electroanalytical performance of screen-printed and tubular solid-state sensors based on different electrode-active compounds (EAC) were compared. Application to the analysis of water solutions, technical raw preparations, commercial detergents, cosmetic and cleaners is described.