IONOPHORES CONTAINING ETHOXYLATE UNITS FOR ION SENSING

The role of ethoxylate-containing molecules as ion-selective electrode (ISE) type potentiometric sensors is illustrated by studies carried o ut in the author's laboratories [1]. The molecules discussed include l ong chain acyclic polyethoxylates, crown and bis-crown ethers, dipheny lethers of tetraethyleneglycol and tripodal type receptors. Attention is given to performance of the ISEs for alkali and alkaline earth meta l ions, uranyl and organic cations. Additionally, there is some discus sion of fundamentals and of the role of electrodes with membranes base d on appropriate tetraphenylborates of barium complexed with polyethox ylate in the analysis and critical micelle concentration determination of nonionic polyethoxylate detergents.