The paper describes the analytical potentialities of the trinuclear chromium(III) complexes as potentiometric ionophores for the construction of electrodes sensitive to the presence of nitrate anion. The electroactive material containing 4,4’-bipyridil was synthesized in situ. The membrane was prepared using dioctylphthalate as a solvent mediator and poly (vinyl chloride) as a polymeric matrix. The electrodes presented a slope of 56 mV/decade, a low limit of detection (3,2.10-6 mol/l), an adequate lifetime (4 months), and suitable selectivity characteristics when compared with other nitrate electrodes. The good parameters of this electrode made possible its application to the determination of nitrate in different types of fertilizers.

The polarographic behavior of the complex formed by V(V) and 2,3–dihydroxybenzaldehyde (2,3–DHBA) in the solution containing acetate buffer (pH 5,2) has been investigated. By means of a.c. polarography, chronovoltammetry and other techniques, it has been shown that the electrode process is complicated by the adsorption of 2,3-DHBA and its vanadium complex. The kinetic and adsorption parameters of the electrode process have been determined: adsorption equilibrium constant B= 1,32⋅105 mol-1⋅dm3, the attraction constant γ = 1,2, the maximum surface concentration Гmax = 9,10⋅10-11 mol⋅ cm-2; the share of the electrode surface occupied by one particle of the adsorbed complex S = 1,81 nm2 and the free adsorption energy ΔG = - 39,1 kJ· mol-1.

A potentiometric selective sensor based on trinuclear chromium(III) complex as a novel ionophore for the thiocyanateselective electrode is reported. The sensor displays a near Nernstian slope of 57 ± 2 mV per decade, over a wide pH range 3 - 11. The working concentration range of the electrode is 1.10-5 – 1.10-1 mol/l with a detection limit of 5.10-6 mol/l. The sensor has a response time of 20 s and can be used for at least 6 months without any considerable fluctuation of the potential. The selectivity coefficients determined at using the fixed interference method indicate a good discriminating ability towards other anions. The prepared sensor was applied as an indicator electrode in the titration of thiocyanate with Ag+.