A novel polymer inclusion membranes based optode for sensitive determination of Al3+ ions

A novel approach for the determination of Al3+ from aqueous samples was developed using an optode membrane produced by physical inclusion of Al3+ selective reagent, which is morin into a plasticized poly(vinyl chloride). The inclusion of Triton X-100 was found to be valuable and useful for enhancing the sorption of Al3+ ions from liquid phase into the membrane phase, thus increasing the intensity of optode's absorption. The optode showed a linear increase in the absorbance at lambda(max)= 425 nm over the concentration range of 1.85 x 10(-6)-1.1 x 10(-4) mol L-1 (0.05-3 mu g mL(-1)) of Al3+ ions in aqueous solution after 5 min. The limit of detection was determined to be 1.04 x 10(-6) mol L-1 (0.028 mu g mL(-1)). The optode developed in the present work was easily prepared and found to be stable, has good mechanical strength, sensitive and reusable. In addition, the optode was tested for Al3+ determination in lake water, river water and pharmaceutical samples, which the result was satisfactory. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.