Quantifying plasticizer leakage from ion-selective membranes - a nanosponge approach.

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Sensor Technology

Background:

• Spontaneous plasticizer release from ion-selective sensor membranes degrades sensor performance and creates safety hazards.
• Quantifying plasticizer leakage is crucial for improving sensor longevity and ensuring user safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel nanosponge approach for quantifying plasticizer release from ion-selective membranes.
• To investigate the factors influencing plasticizer leakage, including plasticizer type and membrane composition.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a nanosponge system incorporating solvatochromic dye-loaded nanoparticles.
• Developed a fluorescence-based detection method to quantify plasticizer concentration in solution.
• Compared nanosponge results with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) for validation.

Main Results:

• The nanosponge method successfully quantified plasticizer content in the parts-per-million (ppm) range.
• Leakage of 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether reached up to 20 ppm after 12 hours, while bis(2-ethylhexyl) sebacate release was below 2 ppm.
• Plasticizer release is dependent on its chemical nature and the presence of ionophores and ion-exchangers.

Conclusions:

• The nanosponge approach provides a sensitive and accurate method for assessing plasticizer leakage.
• Findings are critical for designing more robust and safer ion-selective sensors.
• The developed method demonstrates high analytical potential comparable to LC-MS.