Nitrite‐Selective Electrode Based On Cobalt(II) tert‐Butyl‐Salophen Ionophore

Abstract A series of polymeric nitrite‐selective electrodes containing a new lipophilic ionophore Co(II) tert ‐butyl‐salophen is reported. The stability of Co(II) ionophores within a PVC‐based membrane was investigated by leaching experiments. Different membrane compositions were explored in order to reach the lowest possible limit of detection for a PVC‐based nitrite selective polymeric membrane electrode containing this ionophore. The optimal electrode showed a limit of detection of 2×10 −6 M and exhibited four orders of magnitude of discrimination over nitrate, chloride and bromide. The electrodes were evaluated in undiluted human urine and attest to the robustness of the ionophore.