Plastic colorimetric film sensors for gaseous ammonia

The preparation and characterization of three different plastic thin-film colorimetric sensors for gaseous ammonia is described. In the film sensors, the neutral form of a pH-sensitive dye (Bromophenol Blue, Bromocresol Green or Chlorophenol Red) was encapsulated in a plastic medium, either poly(vinyl butyral) or ethylcellulose plasticized with tributyl phosphate. Each of these film optodes gave a reproducible and reversible response towards gaseous ammonia. The sensitivity of the film sensors towards ammonia was found to be strongly dependent upon the pK(a) of the encapsulated dye. Thus, the film with Chlorophenol Red (pK(a) = 6.25), proved to be very insensitive (operating range: 0.29% < %NH3 < 100%), whereas the film with Bromophenol Blue (pK(a) = 4.1), was much more sensitive (operating range: 0.0003% < %NH3 < 0.11%). The sensitivity of a plastic film sensor decreased markedly with increasing operating temperature and the 90% response (15-38 s) and recovery (820-127 s) times were slow and activation-controlled.