Hexacyanoferrate-based composite ion-sensitive electrodes for voltammetry

Abstract

Composite electrodes made of graphite, paraffin and metal hexacyanoferrates exhibit a voltammetric response of the hexacyanoferrate ions, the potential of which depends linearly on the logarithm of concentration of alkali and alkaline-earth metal ions. This behaviour has been observed on account of the fact that the electrochemical reaction is accompanied by an exchange of these ions between the solution and the zeolitic lattice of the hexacyanoferrates for charge compensation. The voltammetric determination of the formal potential of these electrodes in a solution allows the quantitative analysis of the ions which are exchanged between the metal hexacyanoferrates and the aqueous solutions. Iron(III), copper(II), silver(I), nickel(II) and cadmium(II) hexacyanoferrates have been studied for the determination of H⁺, Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺, NH₄su{+}, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Ba²⁺. In some cases, the selectivity constants are as low as 3·10⁻⁴, or even so small that their exact value is inaccessible. Electrodes made of iron (III), copper (II), silver (I), nickel (II) and cadmium (II) hexacyanoferrates are most suitable for the determination of potassium ions. Electrodes with nickel (II) and cadmium (II) hexacyanoferrates are also suitable for the determination of caesium ions. The working range of the electrodes also depends on the conductivity of the solutions and can range from 10⁻⁵ to 1 moll⁻¹. Typical standard deviations of the potential measurements are 3 mV.