Toward Long-Term Accurate and Continuous Monitoring of Nitrate in Wastewater Using Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE)-Solid-State Ion-Selective Electrodes (S-ISEs)

Fan, Y; Huang, Y; Linthicum, W; Liu, F; Beringhs, AO; Dang, Y; Xu, Z; Chang, SY; Ling, J; Huey, BD; Suib, SL; Ma, AWK; Gao, PX; Lu, X; Lei, Y; Shaw, MT; Li, B; ,

HERO ID

7086869

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2020

Language

English

PMID

32933249

HERO ID 7086869
In Press No
Year 2020
Title Toward Long-Term Accurate and Continuous Monitoring of Nitrate in Wastewater Using Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE)-Solid-State Ion-Selective Electrodes (S-ISEs)
Authors Fan, Y; Huang, Y; Linthicum, W; Liu, F; Beringhs, AO; Dang, Y; Xu, Z; Chang, SY; Ling, J; Huey, BD; Suib, SL; Ma, AWK; Gao, PX; Lu, X; Lei, Y; Shaw, MT; Li, B; ,
Journal ACS Sensors
Volume 5
Issue 10
Page Numbers 3182-3193
Abstract Long-term accurate and continuous monitoring of nitrate (NO3-) concentration in wastewater and groundwater is critical for determining treatment efficiency and tracking contaminant transport. Current nitrate monitoring technologies, including colorimetric, chromatographic, biometric, and electrochemical sensors, are not feasible for continuous monitoring. This study addressed this challenge by modifying NO3- solid-state ion-selective electrodes (S-ISEs) with poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE, (C2F4) n ). The PTFE-loaded S-ISE membrane polymer matrix reduces water layer formation between the membrane and electrode/solid contact, while paradoxically, the even more hydrophobic PTFE-loaded S-ISE membrane prevents bacterial attachment despite the opposite approach of hydrophilic modifications in other antifouling sensor designs. Specifically, an optimal ratio of 5% PTFE in the S-ISE polymer matrix was determined by a series of characterization tests in real wastewater. Five percent of PTFE alleviated biofouling to the sensor surface by enhancing the negative charge (-4.5 to -45.8 mV) and lowering surface roughness (Ra: 0.56 ± 0.02 nm). It simultaneously mitigated water layer formation between the membrane and electrode by increasing hydrophobicity (contact angle: 104°) and membrane adhesion and thus minimized the reading (mV) drift in the baseline sensitivity ("data drifting"). Long-term accuracy and durability of 5% PTFE-loaded NO3- S-ISEs were well demonstrated in real wastewater over 20 days, an improvement over commercial sensor longevity.
Doi 10.1021/acssensors.0c01422
Pmid 32933249
Wosid WOS:000585974600025
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword poly(tetrafluoroethylene); NO3- S-ISEs; wastewater; long-term accuracy and durability; antifouling; reading (mV) drifting; negative charge; surface roughness