Novel Y(III) PVC-based membrane microelectrode based on a new S-N Schiff's base

A new Schiff's base with sulfur and nitrogen donor atoms (2-({(E)1,2-diphenyl-2-[(2-2-sulfanylphenyl)imino]ethylidene} amino)-1-benzenethiol, DSAB) was used as a membrane-active component to prepare a Y(III)-selective polymeric membrane microelectrode. The electrode exhibits a Nernstian response toward Y(III) ions over a wide concentration range (1.0 X 10(-2)-1.0 x 10(-7)M), with a detection limit of 7.0 X 10(-8) M (6.2 mug/mL). It has a very fast response time < 5s and can be used for at least one month without any considerable divergence in potentials. The proposed membrane sensor revealed very good selectivity toward yttrium over a wide variety of other metal ions including alkali, alkaline earth, transition, and heavy metal ions and could be used in the pH range 4.0-9.0. It was used as an indicator electrode in the potentiometric titration of yttrium ions with EDTA. The proposed micro sensor was also used to direct determination of yttrium in an yttrium-aluminum alloy sample.