Lead-selective fluorescent optode membrane based on 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethyl-N-(9-anthrylmethyl)benzidine

A new proton-selective fluorescing indicator, 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethyl-N-(9-anthrylmethyl)benzidine (TMANB) has been synthesized and applied in an optode membrane for the determination of lead ion that works on the basis of a cation-exchange mechanism. When embedded in a plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane containing lead ionophore (tert-butylcalix[4]arene-tetrakis(N,N-dimethylthioacetamide)) and a lipophilic anionic site [potassium tetrakis(4-chlorophenyl)borate], TMANB shows a significant fluorescence signal change on exposure to aqueous HCl solution containing lead ion, which exhibits the theoretically expected fluorescence response to lead ion concentration. The selectivity, response time, reproducibility and reversibility, and lifetime of the optode membrane were discussed.