A comparative study on selectivity and sensitivity of new chromium and copper electrodes

4-Methylcoumarin-7-yloxy-N-phenyl acetamide and 4-methylcoumarin-7-yloxy-N-4-nitrophenyl acetamide were synthesized and used as new ionophores in the carbon paste matrix to produce two novel potentiometric modified electrodes. The selectivity of the electrode changed from copper (II) to chromium (III) with the addition of a nitro group to the phenyl ring of the ionophore. The ionophores' tendency to ions was confirmed by UV-visible spectrophotometry. Both electrodes were modified by multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as an excellent modifier of carbon paste electrode (CPE). The best sensor response in the case of copper (II) selective CPE was obtained by 5% ionophore, 65% graphite powder, 5% MWCNT, and 25% paraffin oil. In addition, in the case of chromium (III) selective CPE, these conditions are 20% ionophore, 50% graphite powder, 5% MWCNT, and 25% paraffin oil. The copper (II) selective CPE showed a Nernstian slope of 32.15 mV/decade within the concentration range of 1.0 × 10^-10-1.0 × 10^-1 mol L^-1, while chromium (III) selective CPE showed a Nernstian slope of 19.28 mV/decade over the concentration range of 1.0 × 10^-10-7.0 × 10^-3 mol L^-1. The electrodes have short response time of less than 5 s and were used successfully to determine copper (II) in wastewater and to speciation of chromium (III) and chromium (VI).