Solid-contact ionophore-based electrode for determination of pH in acidic media

Solid-contact electrode for pH measurements in acidic media is described. The sensor membrane is made of polyvinyl chloride plasticized with bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate and contains neutral pH-selective ionophore hexabutyltriamidophosphate and potassium tetrakis-p-Cl-phenylborate cation exchanger. The transducer layer of the solid-contact electrode contains the same membrane composition and also carbon black and electron–ion-exchanger resin EI-21(a cation exchange resin containing fine dispersion of metal copper) for stabilization of the electrode potential. The electrode is suitable for measurements of pH in the range 0–6 and works also in hydrofluoric acid (HF) solutions up to 0.1 M HF. Chronopotentiometric measurements show diffusion-limited polarization at the interface between sensor membrane and transducer layer. The slope of the linearized polarization curve correlates with the long-term stability of the electrode potentials providing a tool for prediction of the long-term stability of solid-contact potentiometric sensors.