Effects of ion-carrier substituents on the potentiometric-response characteristics in anion-selective membrane electrodes based on iron porphyrins.

The potentiometric response characteristics with respect to salicylate anion of several membrane electrodes based on iron(III) tetraphenylporphyrin chloride (FeTPPCl) and derivatives with electrophilic and nucleophilic substituents, incorporated into plasticized polyvinylchloride (PVC) membranes were investigated. Complexes tetraphenyl porphyrin iron(III) chloride (FeTPPCl; A), tetrakis (4-methoxyphenyl) porphyrin iron(III) chloride (Fe(TOCH3PP)Cl; B), tetrakis (2,6-dichlorophenyl) porphyrin iron(III) chloride (Fe(TDClPP)Cl; C), tetrakis (4-nitrophenyl) porphyrin iron(III) chloride (Fe(TNO2PP)Cl; D), and tetrakis (pentafluorophenyl) porphyrin iron(III) chloride (Fe(TPFPP)Cl; E) were used as anion carriers in the membrane electrodes. The sensitivity, working range, detection limit, response mechanism, and selectivity of the membrane sensor toward interference shows a considerable dependence on the type of carrier substituent and the pH value of the sample solution. Potentiometric investigations in solutions of various pH show that the carrier complex containing fluoro substituents (E), which have very strong electron-accepting properties and a high ability to form hydrogen bonds, is capable of serving as a positively charged ionophore. Some other ionophores are capable of serving as both charged and neutral carriers under different conditions. The electrodes prepared in this work show super-Nernstian slopes with respect to salicylate concentration, which tend to a Nernstian response (slope near to -59 mV decade-1) upon an increase of the pH of the test solution. The results of UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy are used for interpretation of the formation of an oxene complex between salicylate and iron porphyrins.