Development of a tubular fluoride potentiometric detector for flow analysis: evaluation and analytical applications

In this work a construction procedure for tubular fluoride electrode to be used in flow systems is outlined. The electrode was constructed from a commercially available, LaF3 single crystal. Principal advantages of the flow detector presented include simplicity of construction, robustness, durability, low cost and easy coupling into any point of a flow manifold. Evaluation of the intrinsic working characteristics of the potentiometric detector in a low dispersion manifold is presented with respect to analytical and dynamic parameters. The constructed detector has similar working characteristics to those of the conventional fluoride electrodes, namely the detection limit, lower limit of linear response and operational pH range. The analytical usefulness of the constructed device was assessed in a flow system developed for fluoride determination in toothpaste, tablet, collutory and water samples for which the reference procedures suggest the determination of fluoride ion with a conventional ion selective electrode.