Use of ethylene-vinyl-acetate as a new membrane matrix for calcium ion-selective electrode preparation

A new polymer matrix based membrane electrode with an ion-exchanger responding to calcium was constructed by dissolving the copolymer ethylene-vinyl-acetate together with the ion-exchanger in chloroform in the presence of a mixture of dioctylphthalate-nitrobenzene as plasticizer. The ion-exchanger used as the electroactive component was calcium didecyl phosphate in di-(n-octylphenyl) phosphonate (Orion). This electrode exhibited near-Nernstian response over the concentration range 10(-1)-4 x 10(-6)M calcium. The pH did not affect the electrode performance within the range 8-11. Response time varied from 15 to 120 sec and the lifetime exceeded six months. The membrane is subject to static charge buildup, but this is avoided by controlling the level of dryness of the membrane. Selectivity coefficients determined for both monovalent and divalent cations showed negligible interference by most of these ions. The electrode was applied successfully to the determination of calcium in commercial mineral waters.