Calcium-Selective Electrodes for Measurements in the Presence of Anionic Surfactants

Calcium selective electrodes with various membrane formulations were studied in solutions containing CaCl2 and sodium dodecylsulfate (NaDS). It is shown that electrodes based on neutral ionophores ETH 1001 and ETH 129 cannot be used as Ca2+ ion sensors in these solutions because of strong anion interference from DS− anion. Among other formulations, that based on calcium bis(tetramethylbutylphenyl)phosphate in tri(2‐ethylhexyl)phosphate appear the most promising. The interpretation of the ISE response in solutions under study relied on a novel approach which considers three forms of calcium: Ca2+ free ions, Ca in Ca(DS)2 precipitate, and Ca2+ bound by the DS− micelles. Data needed for the respective calculations were obtained by DS− selective electrode based on tetradecylammonium, and Na+ selective glass electrode.