CLAY MEMBRANE ELECTRODES SPECIFIC TO CATIONIC SURFACTANTS - APPLICATIONS

Amphiphilic-cation-specific electrodes most often use a specific membrane composed of a homogeneous mixture of a polymer (PVC), a plasticizer and a carrier of the amphiphilic ion. Generally, the carrier is dissolved in this kind of membrane. However, electrodes could also be constructed using heterogeneous membranes, in which the carrier is insoluble. We used laponite, a synthetic clay, as the carrier of cationic surfactant to prepare electrodes. These clay membrane electrodes performed as well as electrodes using a homogeneous membrane; they could be used for potentiometric studies and determinations of the solubility product of salt of the surfactant.