Emeka Martin Enemchukwu
University of South Africa, South Africa
Title: Comparative study of solid state phosphate selective electrodes of variable membrane composition
Biography
Biography: Emeka Martin Enemchukwu
Abstract
In this study solid-state ion selective electrodes which are sensitive to inorganic phosphate ions have been prepared. The solid salts used in the electrodes membranes composition were aluminium powder (Al), Aluminium phosphate (AlPO4) and powdered copper (Cu). The principal component of the electrodes was Aluminium phosphate (AlPO4). Studies on phosphate detection in solution were conducted by varying the quantities of the principal component and the other membrane components in a particular membrane under the same conditions. In some cases, a membrane component is entirely omitted and effects on phosphate detection observed. The mechanism for the selectivity of phosphates by the electrodes includes adsorption, absorption and ion-exchange processes. An understanding of these processes reveals that the composition of the membrane material and its molecular structural framework are all important. The ternary membrane electrodes exhibited linear potential response in the concentration range of 1.0 × 10−1M to 1.0 × 10−6M. The electrodes have a long lifetime and can be stored in air while not in use.