Paper Strip and Ceramic Potentiometric Platforms Modified with Nano-Sized Polyaniline (PANi) for Static and Hydrodynamic Monitoring of Chromium in Industrial Samples

Fast chromium determination in pharmaceutical tablets by using electrochemical sensors: Preparation and comparison

In the present paper, three electrodes were prepared with the aim of detecting chromium (III) in pharmaceutical tablets and comparing their capabilities and efficiency. At first, N-(pyridine-2-ylcarbamothioyl) benzamide (NP2YCTB) was synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR, FTIR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy methods. Then, it is used as a sensing material to prepare three types of chromium potentiometry sensors including solid-state electrodes (SSE), coated wire electrodes (CWE) as asymmetric electrodes, and liquid membrane electrodes (LME) as symmetric electrodes. The responses of all electrodes were Nernstian. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy was utilized to investigate the liquid membrane morphology. The presence of chromium (III) in the membrane was proved using Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and the coordination of NP2YCTB heteroatoms with chromium (III) was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The limit of detection for SSE (3 × 10-9 mol/L) was enhanced compared with LME (7 × 10-6 mol/L) and CWE (3 × 10-7 mol/L). The response time of electrodes was very short so it was about 5-6 s for LME and CWE and 5-8 s for SSE. The sensors were used for the potentiometric determination of chromium (III) in pharmaceutical tablets and in the potentiometric titration of it with EDTA.

Chromium measurement in pharmaceutical samples: a comparative study of three new membrane electrodes with different electron-ion exchangers

The present study deals with synthesis of N-(thiazol-2-ylcarbamothioyl) benzamide. It was utilized as a neutral ionophore for designing three types of chromium(III) sensors including coated wire ion selective electrodes (CW-ISEs), ion selective electrodes with liquid internal electrolyte (LIE-ISEs), and solid-state ion selective electrodes (SS-ISEs). UV-visible spectrophotometry was used to confirm the affinity of N-(thiazol-2-ylcarbamothioyl) benzamide to chromium(III). It was found that a membrane with a composition of 2% NaTPB, 8% ionophore, 60% DBP, and 30% PVC showed the best performance and a Nernstian slope of 21.6 mV per decade. Scanning electron microscopy was used to assess the PVC membrane morphology. The existence of chromium(III) in the liquid membrane matrix was proved by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Detection limits for SS-ISE (1 × 10^-6 M) and CW-ISE (1 × 10^-6 M) were enhanced relative to LIE-ISE (1 × 10^-5 M). All three electrodes showed a response time of about 5 s. The sensors' applicable pH range was 4.0-6.0. Fourier transform infrared spectra recorded through the electrode membrane showed that chromium(III) ion can interact with sulfur, nitrogen and oxygen atoms of N-(thiazol-2-ylcarbamothioyl) benzamide. The sensors were utilized as indicator electrodes in chromium(III) potentiometric titration with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and for directly measuring chromium(III) in some pharmaceutical samples.

All-solid-state paper-based potentiometric combined sensor modified with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and molecularly imprinted polymer for monitoring losartan drug in pharmaceuticals and biological samples

A cost-effective, highly selective and sensitive paper-based potentiometric combined sensor for losartan potassium drug (LOS) is fabricated, characterized and used for the drug monitoring. The sensor consists of 2 strips of filter paper (20 × 5 mm each) as platform, each imprinted with 4 mm diameter circular spot of carbon. One carbon spot is covered by a reduced graphene oxide (rGO) for use as a substrate for the recognition sensor and the other without rGO is used for the reference electrode. LOS molecularly imprinted drug polymer (MIP) is applied onto the graphene oxide containing strip to act as a drug recognition sensing material and a solid-state polyvinyl butyral (PVB) is applied onto the second carbon spot to act as a reference electrode. Performance characteristics of the combined sensor are examined with chronopotentiometry (CP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Increase effect of rGO on the interfacial double-layer capacitance of the sensing membrane and consequently on the potential stability is confirmed. The developed combined sensor (strip cell) displays a Nernstian slope of -58.2 ± 0.3 mV/decade (R² = 0.9994) over the linear range 8.5 × 10^-7 - 6.9 × 10^-2 M with a detection limit of 2.7 ± 0.3 × 10^-7 M. The sensor shows remarkable selectivity toward various related compounds especially those commonly used by the COVID-19 patients such as paracetamol, ascorbic acid and dextromethorphan. The assay method is validated and proved to be satisfactory for direct potentiometric determination of LOS-K in some pharmaceutical formulations and in spiked human urine samples. An average recovery of 96.3 ± 0.3-98.7 ± 0.6% of the nominal or spiked concentration and a mean relative standard deviation of ±0.6% are obtained. The use of an indicating and a reference electrodes combined into a single flexible disposable paper platform enables applications to a minimum sample volume due to the close proximity of the responsive membrane and the liquid junction. The efficiency of the proposed sensor in complex urine matrix suggests its application in hospitals for rapid diagnosis of overdose patients and for quality control/quality assurance tests in pharmaceutical industry.

A comparative study on selectivity and sensitivity of new chromium and copper electrodes

4-Methylcoumarin-7-yloxy-N-phenyl acetamide and 4-methylcoumarin-7-yloxy-N-4-nitrophenyl acetamide were synthesized and used as new ionophores in the carbon paste matrix to produce two novel potentiometric modified electrodes. The selectivity of the electrode changed from copper (II) to chromium (III) with the addition of a nitro group to the phenyl ring of the ionophore. The ionophores’ tendency to ions was confirmed by UV–visible spectrophotometry. Both electrodes were modified by multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as an excellent modifier of carbon paste electrode (CPE). The best sensor response in the case of copper (II) selective CPE was obtained by 5% ionophore, 65% graphite powder, 5% MWCNT, and 25% paraffin oil. In addition, in the case of chromium (III) selective CPE, these conditions are 20% ionophore, 50% graphite powder, 5% MWCNT, and 25% paraffin oil. The copper (II) selective CPE showed a Nernstian slope of 32.15 mV/decade within the concentration range of 1.0 × 10^–10–1.0 × 10^–1 mol L⁻¹, while chromium (III) selective CPE showed a Nernstian slope of 19.28 mV/decade over the concentration range of 1.0 × 10^–10–7.0 × 10^–3 mol L⁻¹. The electrodes have short response time of less than 5 s and were used successfully to determine copper (II) in wastewater and to speciation of chromium (III) and chromium (VI).

Photoelectrocatalytic mechanism of PEDOT modified filtration membrane

The generation of free radicals is the key to the photocatalytic efficiency. In this study, the degradation mechanism of photoelectrocatalysis (PEC) membrane could be adequately explained by exploring the generation pathway of different free radicals. The PEC membrane was prepared by gas phase polymerization of poly (3, 4-ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT) on non-woven fabric, industrial filter cloth, ceramic membrane and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane, respectively. Three-dimensional fluorescence test showed that the optimal degradation of mixed or monomer contamination (bovine serum protein, sodium humate, and sodium alginate) was achieved by modified ceramic membrane under PEC condition. As for self-cleaning experiment, the membrane resistance decreased 65.7% when the reaction conditions changed from dark to PEC for 30 min. Combined with the characterization results, PEDOT as photocapacitance extended electron lifetime and promoted free radical generation. This system was mainly dependent on superoxide free radicals (0.01 mmol/L) and singlet oxygen (0.10 mmol/L), which came from energy and electron transfer. Oxygen vacancy could adsorb oxygen to produce superoxide radicals, which was further oxidized to singlet oxygen. In addition, the π-electron conjugated system of PEDOT accelerated the hole transfer and the separation of electrons and holes. Also, this study provided a new view of reactive oxygen species generation mechanism from PEDOT modified membrane.

An all-solid-state potentiometric sensor modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for silicate assessment and water-quality testing

A simple and cost-effective approach is proposed for silicate ion determination. The approach is based on designing an all-solid-state potentiometric sensor. The plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane sensor is based on the ion-association complex [Ni(bphen)₃]²⁺[SiO₃]^2- as a sensory recognition material. The sensor is modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as an ion-to-electron transducer material. The performance characteristics of the new silicate-selective electrode were evaluated using a potentiometric water-layer test, potentiometric measurements, impedance spectroscopy, and current-reversal chronopotentiometry. The developed electrodes exhibited a low detection limit (0.11 μg mL^-1) over a wide linear range (4.0 × 10^-6 to 1.0 × 10^-3 M) and near-Nernstian sensitivity (slope = -28.1 ± 1.4 mV per decade). They presented a very short response time (<5 s) over the pH range 6-12 and provided acceptable reliability, ease of design and miniaturization, and high potential stability, in addition to good accuracy and precision. The sensors exhibited enhanced selectivity for silicate over many common interfering anions, such as SO₄^2-, NO₃^-, CH₃COO^-, CO₃^2-, Cl^-, S^2-, and PO₄^3-. These results could qualify the developed sensor to be used in a successful way for the trace determination of silicate ions in different matrices. The developed method was successfully applied to the potentiometric detection of silicate in different pre-packaged bottled drinking water samples.