Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) based membranes of 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrinatocobalt (I), incorporating dibutyl phthalate (DBP) in the composition 9:55:36 (I:PVC:DBP) responds to molybdate (MoO42-) over the concentration range 7.6 x 10(-6) - 1.0 x 10(-1) mol l(-1), pH between 4.9 and 11.3, with a Nernstian slope and a fast response time of 15 s. The membrane shows excellent selectivity towards MoO42- ions over a number of other anions and exhibits stable response for more than four months. The sensor can be used in non-aqueous medium with no significant change in the value of slope or working concentration range for the estimation of MoO42- in solutions having upto 25% (v/v) non-aqueous fraction. It was applied for the estimation of molybdenum as molybdate in a sample of molybdenite, a low grade ore. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B,V. All rights reserved.