A Novel Single Ionophore Single Electrolyte Configuration for Simultaneous Detection of Multiple Metal Ions via ITIES

Muzammil Ahmed, Anthi Savvidou, Pavithra Pathirathna.

Florida Institute of Technology

The ability to detect multiple analytes would significantly enhance the resourcefulness of sensors used to detect toxic metals in the environment. While previous research studies have explored dual-working electrodes, this approach can be challenging due to interference and crosstalk among the channels. In this study, we propose a novel single bore and single ionophore configuration using ITIES for the simultaneous detection of multiple metal analytes. Our approach offers several advantages, including simplicity of fabrication, lower cost, and eliminating the need for diverse ionophores.

We prepared borosilicate glass electrodes with an inner radius of 300 nm and used differences in half-wave potential to differentiate between multiple metals. Our experiments showed the successful detection of metals in artificial urine and artificial blood. This is the first time a single channel, single ionophore-based ITIES, has been used to detect multiple metal analytes simultaneously. Our sensor offers real-time detection and accurate information on metal speciation, which has the potential to revolutionize the field of heavy metal detection and mitigate the rising global concern of heavy metal toxicity. Future research will focus on automating the detection process to eliminate the need for manual monitoring. Overall, our novel approach holds great promise for developing more efficient and cost-effective sensors.