Fabrication of a PVC membrane samarium(III) sensor based on N,N',N"-tris(4-pyridyl)trimesic amide as a selectophore

A new ion-selective electrode for Sm(3+) ion is described based on the incorporation of N,N',N"-tris(4-pyridyl)trimesic amide (TPTA) in a poly(vinylchloride) (PVC) matrix. The membrane sensor comprises nitrobenzene (NB) as a plasticizer, and oleic acid (OA) as an anionic additive. The sensor with the optimized composition shows a Nernstian potential response of 19.8 ± 0.5 mV decade(-1) over a wide concentration range of 1.0 × 10(-2) and 1 × 10(-6)mol L(-1), with a lower detection limit of 4.7 × 10(-7)mol L(-1) and satisfactor applicable pH range of 3.6-9.2. Having a short response time of less than 10s and a very good selectivity towards the Sm(3+) over a wide variety of interfering cations (e.g. alkali, alkaline earth, transition and heavy metal ions) the sensor seemed to be a promising analytical tool for determination of the Sm(3+). Hence, it was used as an indicator electrode in the potentiometric titration of samarium ion with EDTA. It was also applied to the direct samarium recovery in binary mixtures.