Influences of marine biofouling on the potential responses of polymeric membrane ion-selective electrodes

Using polymeric membrane ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) for reliable long-term marine environmental observations is still a challenge due to the formation of biofilms on electrode surfaces. Unfortunately, the contributions of the specific biofilm components to sensor failure have not been studied. Herein, the influences of the specific biofilm components on the performance of the neutral carrier-based polymeric membrane ISEs are systematically investigated in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, and stability. More importantly, the spatial distributions of these foulants in the fouled sensing membrane phase are studied by confocal laser scanning microscopy for the first time to give insight into the fouling mechanisms. Three typical biochemicals (i.e., proteins, polysaccharides, microbial lipids) in biofilms are selected as the representative foulants. The poly (vinyl chloride)-based CO32-ISEs and K+-ISEs/Ca2+-ISEs have been selected as the model sensors for detection of anions and cations, respectively. Experiments show that depending on the type of the biofoulants, the adsorption of the foulants on the polymeric membrane surface and/or their extraction into the organic membrane phase could occur and induce a change in the potential responses. This study provides a deep insight into the influences of the specific biofilm components on the polymeric membrane ISEs, which is of importance for development of the polymeric membrane marine sensors with high antifouling capabilities for long-term marine monitoring.