The Potentiometric Performance of Mercury (II) Ion-Selective Electrode Based on Tetracycline Antibiotics

Poly (vinylchloride) (PVC) membrane electrodes based on neutral carrier, tetracycline was prepared as an active sensor for Hg(II) ion, and tested in different contents of the potassium tetrakis (4-chlorophenyl) borate (KTpClPB) as lipophilic salt. Bis (2-ethylhexyl) sebacate (DOS), bis(l-butylpentyl) adipate (BBPA), 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether (NPOE) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) were used as diverse plasticizing solvent mediators. This electrode shows excellent potentiometric response characteristics and display good linearity with log $[Hg^{+2}]$ versus EMF response, over a range of concentrations between $10^{-7}$ and $10^{-3}M$. With 30.8mV/decade Nernstian slope, the detection limit was $6.9{\times}10^{-9}M$ and the response time was less than 20s. The proposed electrode yields very good selectivity for mercury (II) ion over many cations such as alkali, alkaline earth, transition and heavy metal ions. And it shows a very stable potential values in a wide pH range. This reliable electrode prepared was kept at least a month without considerable alteration in their response to Hg (II) ion.