RESPONSE PROPERTIES OF ION-SELECTIVE POLYMERIC MEMBRANE ELECTRODES PREPARED WITH AMINATED AND CARBOXYLATED POLYVINYL-CHLORIDE)

The potentiometric response characteristics of several ion-selective polymer membranes prepared with aminated and carboxylated poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) are examined and compared to those observed with the underivatized polymer. Three ion-selective reagents serve as models for these investigations. The presence of carboxyl or amine functional groups within the membranes, even in mole excess to the ion carriers, is shown to have little effect on the response and selectivity of the neutral-carrier-based membranes. The implications of the findings are discussed in terms of the charged or uncharged nature of the functional groups within the membrane phase as well as the potential advantages of using functionalized PVC to fabricate biosensors.