The Novel SCN- Ion-selective Electrode Based on the 1-Benzyl-3-(4-nitrophenyl) thio-urea Ionophore

A potentiometric sensor based on the 1-benzyl-3-(4-nitrophenyl) thio-urea was synthesized and tested as an ionophore in PVC based membrane sensor towards $SCN^-$ ions. This membrane exhibits a linear stable response over a wide concentration range ($1.0{\times}10^{-5}$ to $1.0{\times}10^{-2}M$) with a slope of -59.2 mV/dec., a detection limit of ${\log}[SCN^-]=-5.05$, and a selectivity coefficient for thiocyanate against perchlorate anion of ${\log}K^{pot}_{SCN^-j}=-0.133$. The selectivity series of the membrane is as follows: $SCN^-$ > $ClO_4{^-}$ > $I^-$ > $NO_3{^-}$ > $HSO_3{^-}$ > $Cl^-$ > $HSO_4{^-}$ > $F^-$ > $CH_3COO^-$ > $HCO_3{^-}$ > $Br^-$ > $H_2PO_4{^-}$ > $SO{_3}^{2-}$ > $SO{_4}^{2-}$ > $CO{_3}^{2-}$. The proposed electrode showed good selectivity and a good response for the $SCN^-$ ion over a wide variety of other anions in pH 6.0 buffer solutions and has a fast response time of about < 5s. The influences of the membrane by pH, ionophore, and plasticizer were studied.