Construction of a Highly Selective and Sensitive Ytterbium(III) Membrane Sensor Based on 4-Methoxybenzyl Carbazate as a New Neutral Ionophore

In this research, 4-Methoxybenzyl carbazate (MBC) was used as an excellent sensing ion carrier in the construction of a poly vinyl chloride membrane sensor for Yb3+ ions. The electrode shows a good selectivity for the Yb3+ ion with respect to most common cations including alkali, alkaline earth, transition, and heavy metal ions, and especially lanthanide ions. The sensor exhibits Nernstian response to Yb3+ ions in the concentration range of 1.0x10(-7) to 1.0x10(-2) mol L-1 with a detection limit of the proposed sensor is 8.3x10(-8) mol L-1. It displays a Nernstian slope of 19.8 +/- 0.4 mV decade(-1) in the pH range of 2.2-9.7. The proposed sensor also exhibits a fast response time of similar to 5 s and can be used over a period of 10 weeks without significant changes in its response. To test the analytical applicability of the designed device, it was used as an indicator electrode in the potentiometric titration of Yb3+ ions with EDTA and the determination of concentration of Yb3+ ions in water samples and in various mixtures of interfering ions.