Emulsion-Based Fluorosensors for Potassium Featuring Improved Stability and Signal Change

A novel kind of potassium optode is presented which is based on the use of lipophilic droplets containing valinomycin and entrapped in a structured hydrogel. A positively charged solvatochromic dye located near the surface of the droplets responds to the valinomycin-assisted extraction of potassium from the sample by dramatic decrease of fluorescence intensity. The dynamic range is from 5 to 100 mM potassium, with negligible cross sensitivity to ionic strength. Cross sensitivity to pH is negligible too in the pH range from 6.5 to 7.3. The effect of interfering lipophilic anions is discussed. Response times within the dynamic range are less than 3 min on going from low to high potassium ion concentrations but about 10 min in the reverse direction. Response is fully reversible with only small drifts in baseline. The measurement uncertainty of determining 5 mM potassium is better than 0.2 mM.