Nitrate-Selective Electrodes Based on the Trinuclear Chromium(III) Pivalates

Abstract

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.