Solid-contact Hg(II)-selective electrode based on a carbon-epoxy composite containing a new dithiophosphate-based ionophore

The experimental results herein concern a novel ion-selective electrode manufactured with an inner solid contact based on a new ligand O,O′-(2,2′-biphenylene)dithiophosphate pentyl (PenDTF). This electrode displays high selectivity toward the Hg(II) ion even in the presence of different divalent ions. The electrode also exhibited a good Nernstian response to Hg(II) (33.7±1.0mVdecade−1) over an ample concentration range (5.3×10−7−1.0×10−2molL−1), with a detection limit of (6.1±1.7)×10−7molL−1. As a result of design, the electrode can be used for many experiments, simply renewing its contact surface with emery paper, without giving rise to a significant response deviation, exhibiting a variation coefficient of 3%, capable of being tested within the 0–5 pH interval. The electrode was used satisfactorily as indicating electrode during the potentiometric titration of Hg(II) ions with EDTA. •A novel ISE for Hg (II) based on the new ionophore PenDTF (Hg(II)-ISE-PenDTF) was constructed.•The surface of our ISE can be easily renewed with simple light grinding treatment.•The ISE was tested in the 0–5 pH range, showed no variation in potential.•Selectivity coefficients were obtained for divalent ions and found to be negligible.•The ISE was useful for the potentiometric titration of Hg (II) with EDTA.