Highly selective oxalate-membrane electrode based on 2,2'-[1,4-butandiyle bis(nitrilo propylidine)]bis-1-naphtholato copper(II).

A new oxalate-selective electrode based on the complex 2,2'-[1,4-butandiyle bis(nitrilo propylidine)]bis-1-naphtholato copper(II) (CuL) as the membrane carrier was developed. The electrode exhibited a good Nernstian slope of -29.2+/-0.6 mV/decade (mean value+/-standard deviation, n=5) and a linear range of 5.0 x 10(-8) to 1.0 x 10(-1)M for oxalate. The limit of detection was 5.0 x 10(-8)M. This electrode represents a fast response time (i.e. 10-15s) and could be used for more than 3 months. The selectivity coefficients were determined by the fixed interference method (FIM) and could be used in the pH range of 2.0-7.0. It was employed as an indicator electrode for the determination of oxalate in water samples.