Polymeric membrane coated graphite cesium selective electrode based on 4′,4″(5′) di–tert-butyl di-benzo-18-crown-6

A new PVC membrane coated graphite electrode for cesium ion based on 4′,4″(5′)di–tert-butyl di-benzo-18-crown-6 (DTBDB18C6) as ionophore was prepared. The electrode shows a near Nernstian response of 57.0 ± 1.8 mV decade−1 over a wide activity range of 6.0 × 10−6–1.0 × 10−1 mol L−1 with a limit of detection 4.0 × 10−6 mol L−1. The proposed electrode is suitable for use in aqueous solution in the pH range of 3.0–9.5. It has a fast response time of 10 s and can be used for at least 1 month without any considerable divergence in potential. The selectivity coefficients for Cs+ ion with respect to ammonium, alkali, alkaline earth and some selected transition metal ions were determined and showed a superior selectivity over Li+, Na+ and alkaline earth metal ions. The new electrode was applied for determination of Cs+ in spiked tap water. The electrode was also used as indicator electrode in potentiometric titration of Cs+ with sodium tetraphenyl borate.