Novel screen-printed electrode for the determination of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide in water samples

The construction and electrochemical response characteristics of a screen-printed electrode (SPE) for the determination of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) are described. The sensor was based on the use of DTA-tetraphenylborate ion association complex as an electroactive material in screen-printed electrode with dioctylsebacate (DOS) as a solvent mediator. In aqueous solution of pH 3, the sensor displayed a stable response for six months with reproducible potential and linear response for surfactant over the concentration range 1.20 × 10(-2) -5.6 × 10(-7) mol L(-1) at 25 °C with Nernstian slope of 55.95 ± 0.58 mV decade(-1) for detection limit of 6.8 x 10(-6) mol L(-1) . The response time was 6-10 s. The selectivity coefficients indicate excellent selectivity for DTAB over many common cations (e.g. Mg(2+), Na(+), K+, Co(2+), Ni(2+), Ca(2+), Cl(-), I(-), SO(4)(-2) and cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC). The sensor was used successfully for the determining of DTAB in pure form and water samples with average recoveries of 99.98, 98.78, and 99.99%.