Synthesis, Characterization, and Electrochemical Applications of a New Lawsone Molecule: Potentiometric Determination of Cr(III) Ions with Low Detection Limit

Abstract In this study, a new lawsone derivative molecule (2) was synthesized, and sensors were prepared using it as electroactive material (ionophore). These sensors exhibited selectivity towards Cr 3+ ions among different cationic species. The polymer membrane contained 3.0% ionophore, 64.0% dibutyl phthalate (DBP), 32.0% polyvinylchloride (PVC) and 1.0% lipophilic additive (KT p ClPB). For this novel potentiometric sensor, linear concentration range, Nernstian slope, detection limit, pH working range and response time were determined as 1.0 × 10 −1 –1.0 × 10 −7 M, 21.8 ± 1.7 mV/decade, 7.65 × 10 −8 M, 5.0–9.0 and 8 s, respectively. The analytical application of the sensor was carried out by determining Cr 3+ in samples to which certain amounts of Cr 3+ ions were added. The newly developed sensor was able to determine Cr 3+ ions in different samples with very high recoveries.