INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ELECTROCHEMICAL SCIENCE, cilt.15, sa.11, ss.11468-11478, 2020 (SCI-Expanded)
In this work, we aimed to increase the selectivity of lithium selective electrodes containing lithium ionophore VI in the membrane matrix by using 4,4,4-Trifluoro-1-phenyl-1,3-butanedione (HBTA). Potentiometric response characteristics of the prepared lithium selective electrodes were investigated. Increasing the ratio of HBTA molecule in the membrane cocktail from 0.5% to 1.5% provided a better response with respect to the lower detection limit (LDL), linear range, and selectivity. The LDL and linear range of the electrode with 1.5% HBTA were 7.6x 10(-6) mol L-1 and 1.0x 10(-1) - 3.4x 10(-5) mol L-1 respectively, with a slope 54.3 mV/decade (R-2 = 0.9998). The potentiometric responses of all electrodes were pH-independent in the range of pH 3-12. The response time of the electrodes was less than 10 s and the lifetime was more than eight weeks. The electrode with 1.5% HBTA showed a better selectivity against sodium (1:575) and potassium (1:270) and was successfully applied for the determination of lithium levels in diluted human serum samples. The obtained potentiometric data were compared with the ICP-MS results at 98% confidence level.