Regular ArticleAn aluminum selective electrode via modification of PVC membrane by modified clinoptilolite nanoparticles with hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (HDTMA-Br) surfactant containing Arsenazo III

A modified PVC (polyvinyl chloride) membrane with clinoptilolite nanoparticles/hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide surfactant (HDTMABr)/Arsenazo III: (NSMZ-ARS), was used for construction of Al(III) -selective electrode. The raw and modified samples were characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM and TEM methods. Among the different tested membranes constructed by raw and modified samples, only, the membrane electrode containing NSMZ-ARS showed a suitable Nernstian response to aluminum in the concentration range of 2.04 × 10−5 to 1.99 × 10−1 M (r = 0.9987), with a detection limit of 1.0 × 10−5 mol L−1 and a Nernstian slope of 19.6 ± 0.5 mV per decade of aluminum concentration. The electrode response to aluminum remained constant in the pH range of 2-4. The sensor was selective for aluminum over a wide variety of other ions and exhibited. The electrode had a rapid response time and its response reached to steady potential at 5 s. The electrode had also satisfactory long term stability and held its activity at least 3 months.

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