Synthesis of Dodecanol-Anchored Nano-sized Magnesium Imprinted Polymer and Its Application as an Efficient Ionophore in Mg2+-Selective PVC Membrane Electrode

Magnesium imprinted polymeric (Mg-IP) nanoparticles were prepared by precipitation polymerization method in acetonitrile. Itaconic acid (ITA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate were employed as functional monomer/complexing agent and cross-linker, respectively. Fast Fourier-infrared spectroscopy was employed to investigate the interaction of ITA with Mg2+ ion. The obtained polymeric material was utilized as ionophore in order to fabricate the Mg2+-selective PVC-membrane electrode. The Mg-IP nanoparticles were covalently modified with alkyl chains, capping the surface carboxylic acid groups of the IPs and making them much hydrophobic. This strategy caused remarkably improvement in the electrode selectivity and durability. The optimized electrode showed response time of about 25 s and exhibited no memory effect. A dynamic linear range of 5×10-7 to 1×10-1 mol L-1, Nernstian slope of 29.5±(0.4) mV decade-1 and detection limit of 2.3×10-7 mol L-1 were attained for the electrode. The efficiency of the electrode was tested by the determination of Mg2+ amount in different bottled mineral water and drinking water samples.