Aromatic sulphonate ion-selective electrode membrane with crystal violet as ion-exchange site.

Four triphenylmethane derivatives (cations) and a high molecular-weight quaternary ammonium ion were used as the ion-exchange site in the liquid membranes of electrodes responsive to aromatic sulphonate ions, such as benzenesulphonate and alpha-naphthalenesulphonate. The nitrobenzene or 1,2-dichloroethane membrane containing the Crystal Violet-aromatic sulphonate pair had good sensitivity, showing an approximately Nernstian response down to 10(-4)M sulphonate. The potential of the Crystal Violet membrane was independent of pH variation from 2.5 to 12. Chloride and sulphate ions in the aqueous sample solution did not affect the electrode potential. 1,3,6-Naphthalenetrisulphonate exerted essentially no influence on the potential of the alpha-naphthalenesulphonate electrode. The interference of the nitrate ion was relatively large. The conductivity and association of the solute species in the membrane were estimated.