Sol-Gel Encapsulation as Matrix for Potentiometric Nitrite-Selective Membranes Doped with Chloro (5, 10, 15, 20-Tetraphenylporphyrinato) Cobalt (III)

Abstract

Organic-inorganic hybrid sol-gel matrices were used as hosts for chloro (5, 10, 15, 20-tetraphenylporphyrinato) cobalt (III) (Co[TPP]Cl), a known ionophore for nitrite. The sol-gel precursor was prepared by the reaction of (3-isocyanopropyl) triethoxysilane with 1,4-butanediol. An appropriate amount of the anion-exchanger, tridodecylmethylammonium chloride (TDMAC) and the plasticizer, tributylphosphate (DBP) were used as membrane additives. On mixing with an acidic catalyst, the sol-state precursors slowly gelled, yielding a membrane in which the active components, Co anions such as chloride were somewhat inferior to those observed with PVC-based membranes, but selectivities over lipophilic anions were quite similar. Reduced asymmetry potentials due to protein adsorption were found to occur with the sol-gel matrix relative to PVC-based films when the sensors were employed as a detector in flow-through configuration.