Perchlorate-selective polymeric membrane electrode based on a gold(I) complex: application to water and urine analysis Original Research Article

A gold(I) organic complex incorporated in a plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) membrane was used to develop a perchlorate-selective electrode. The influence of membrane composition on the electrode response was studied. The electrode exhibits a Nernstian response over the perchlorate concentration range 5×10−6–1×10−2 mol l−1 with a slope of 57 mV per decade of concentration, a wide working pH range (2–12) and a fast response time (≤14 s). The electrode shows excellent selectivity towards perchlorate with respect to many common anions and very good selectivity with respect to chlorate. The electrode was used to determine perchlorate in water and human and cattle urine.