A highly versatile stable optical sensor based on 4-decyloxy-2-(2-pyridylazo)-1-naphthol in Nafion for the determination of copper

Abstract

A new optical chemical sensor based on the recently synthesized azo dye, 4-decyloxy-2-(2-pyridylazo)-1-naphthol (DPAN), immobilised in Nafion membranes is reported. The sensing membranes cast onto glass substrates and integrated into a flow-through measuring cell were homogeneous, transparent, mechanically stable and showed no evidence of reagent leaching. The DPAN/Nafion sensor was used for the determination of Cu(II) which forms a blue coloured complex with DPAN. The main parameters of the computer controlled flow system incorporating the flow-through optical sensor, a multi-port selection valve and a peristaltic pump were optimized. The duration of the time during which the sample was asp..