3.1 Characterization of hydrazine-montmorillonite intercalation compound
XRD patterns showed d-spacing of d(001) which response to silicate layer in montmorillonite structure, changed after mixing with hydrazine. Due to Bragg’s equation, the basal spacing of montmorillonite was found 9.72 \(\AA\) at 2\(\text{θ}\) of 9.10\(\text{°}\). After mixing with hydrazine, it shifted to 12.09 \(\text{Å}\) at 2\(\text{θ}\) of 7.305\(\text{°}\) (\(\text{∆}\)d = 2.37). The results indicated that hydrazine was successfully intercalated in montmorillonite structure.
FT-IR spectrum of Na+-montmorillonite (MMT), hydrazine-montmorillonite (HYD-MMT) and hydrazine (HYD) were shown in Fig. 3. The OH-stretching vibration band of water molecules were observed at 3,611 and 3,618 cm− 1 for HYD-MMT and MMT, in addition OH deformation vibration of water molecule due to weakly bond with Si-O and Al-O in silicate layer was found at 1,633 1,627 and 1,612 cm− 1 for MMT, HYD-MMT and HYD, respectively. The adsorption band was appeared at 3,362 and 3,345 cm− 1 for HYD-MMT and HYD which attributed to NH stretching vibration of of amine group in hydrazine (N2H4) molecule, this adsorption peak was not observed for untreated MMT which conformed with previous work [25, 26]. Si-O-Si stretching vibration strong peaks was found at 1,006 and 981 cm− 1 and the adsorption peak at 909, 520 and 508 cm− 1 were assigned to Al-OH and Si-O-Si bending of montmorillonite which consistent with [27]. This could be concluded that hydrazine is completely attended in the structure of montmorillonite.
(blue).
Table 1
FT-IR adsorption peaks assignments of Na+-montmorillonite (MMT), hydrazine montmorillonite (HYD-MMT) and hydrazine (HYD).
Functional groups | Wavenumber (cm− 1) |
MMT | HYD-MMT | HYD |
-OH stretching of water molecule in montmorillonite | 3,618 | 3,611 | - |
-NH stretching of amine | - | 3,362 | 3345 |
-OH deformation of water molecules bonded with Si-O and Al-O | 1,633 | 1,627 | - |
Si-O-Si stretching vibration of montmorillonite | 1,066 | 981 | - |
Al-OH of montmorillonite | 909 | 909 | - |
Si-O-Si bending of montmorillonite | 520 | 508 | - |
The morphologies of Na+-montmorillonite (MMT) and hydrazine-montmorillonite (HYD-MMT) are shown in Fig. 4 (a) and (b). SEM images and revealed that Na+-montmorillonite and hydrazine-montmorillonite exhibited flake like sheet shape and homogeneous. After treated with hydrazine, the morphology of hydrazine-montmorillonite did not change when compared with Na+-montmorillonite. The composition of clay samples were determined by using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) technique as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, also EDS elemental mapping was shown in Fig. 7. The resulting exhibited O, Si and Al atoms as main composition and homogeneous. N atom was found at 1.37% for HYD-MMT and did not observe in Na+-montmorillonite (MMT) in Fig. 5. This implied that hydrazine molecule could be successfully intercalated in the interlayer sheet of montmorillonite.
Table 2
Elemental composition results of Na+-montmorillonite (MMT) and hydrazine montmorillonite (HYD-MMT).
Samples | Elemental (atomic %) |
| O | Na | Mg | Al | Si | S | Ca | Fe | N |
MMT | 72.47 | 2.20 | 1.02 | 6.74 | 16.67 | 0.05 | 0.08 | 0.76 | - |
HYD-MMT | 56.85 | 1.92 | 1.03 | 9.68 | 25.96 | 0.43 | 0.51 | 2.25 | 1.37 |
compound (e-h).
3.2 Electrochemical results
3.2.1 Potentiometric study and electrode optimization
In this research, we attempt to study of electrode response for heavy metals determination by potentiometric method. Heavy metal ions solution were prepared within concentration range 10− 6-0.1 M. A 20:20:60% wt of HYD-MMT:graphite:epoxy resin composition was constructed as working electrode and Ag/AgCl as reference electrode. They were used to measure the potential in heavy metals ion solution (n = 4) and equipped with VIONIC PGSTAT, Metrohm Autolab. Potentiometric response results were shown in Fig. 8 and Table 3.
Table 3
Slope, R2 and concentration range of 20:20:60% wt electrode composition.
Metal ions solution | Slope (mV decade− 1) | R2 | Concentration range (mol dm− 3) |
Cu2+ | 12.73 | 0.9430 | 10− 5 − 0.1 |
Co2+ | -14.15 | 0.8589 | 10− 5 − 10− 2 |
Ni2+ | nd | nd | nd |
Pb2+ | 20.40 | 0.9911 | 10− 6 -10− 2 |
Cd2+ | nd | nd | nd |
Fe3+ | 58.25 | 0.9692 | 10− 4 − 10− 2 |
Mn2+ | nd | nd | nd |
Zn2+ | nd | nd | nd |
Hg2+ | 31.60 | 0.9968 | 10− 6 − 0.1 |
*nd = non detection
From Table 3, potentiometric measurement of Hg2+ ion exhibited good slope and linearity with 31.60\(\text{±}\)0.79 mV decade−1 which correspond to Nernst’s theory (29.5 mV decade− 1). The linear concentration was found in range 10−6-0.1 M, then we selected Hg2+ to study potentiometric response and composition of electrodes were optimized. Four compositions of electrode were prepared and used to measure potential in Hg2+ solution. Slope value, R2 and concentration range were presented as following Table 4. Slope value of the composition of 20:20:60% wt gave slope with 29.43\(\text{±}\)1.49 mV decade−1 (R 2 = 0.9923) within linear concentration range 10−6 − 0.1 M. This study, we used 20:20:60% wt for Hg2+ ion determination. Plot of potential vs. log [Hg2+] was displayed in Fig. 9.
Table 4
Slope, R2 and concentration range of four electrode compositions.
Electrode composition (% wt) | Hg2+ ion |
Slope | R2 | Concentration range (mol dm− 3) |
10:30:60 | 84.86 | 0.9892 | 10− 6 – 10− 3 |
20:20:60 | 29.43 | 0.9923 | 10− 6 – 0.1 |
30:10:60 | 98.73 | 0.9063 | 10− 4 – 0.1 |
35:5:60 | nd | nd | nd |
*nd = non detection
Figure 9 Plot of potential vs. log [Hg2+].
3.2.2 Reproducibility and durability
To examine reproducibility of electrode, 9 electrodes of the composition 20:20:60% wt were constructed and performed for Hg2+ ions response. Slope average values was determined at 30.53 \(\text{±}\)1.70 mV decade−1 which far from theorical value (29.5 mV decade− 1) only 3.49% for Hg2+ ion. After 6 months, the sensitivity of electrode loss 10.94% and slope was changed from 30.53 to 27.19.
3.2.3 Dynamics response time
According to IUPAC recommendation [28], response time is necessary parameter to evaluate for ion selective electrodes (ISE). To examine response time, Hg2+ solutions were prepared within concentration range from 10− 6-0.1 M. HYD-MMT working electrode and Ag/AgCl reference electrode were immersed in ion solution. The resulting presented that potential exhibited constant and fast potentiometric response about 8 s as shown in Fig. 10.
3.2.4 Effect of pH
To determine an appropriate pH range for using this electrode, Hg2+ ion solution of 0.001 and 0.01 M were prepared and adjusted pH 2–12 with NaOH and HCl. Plot of potential vs pH was shown in Fig. 11. The results presented that potential of this electrode composition of 20:20:60% wt was slightly changed in pH range 4–9. The potential of electrode at above pH 9 were significantly changed may be due to hydroxide precipitation. In acidic solution, the potentials were increased, it might be due to the high presence of H+ at the surface electrode [29]. The pH range 4–9 could be taken as suitable working pH range for this electrode.
3.2.5 Selectivity of electrodes
The selectivity coefficient is one of important parameter for ion selective electrodes, ISEs. Separate solution method (SSM) was used to evaluate selectivity coefficient of electrode, the potential of potentiometric cell setup is measured in separate solution between analyte ion (A) and interfering ions (B) at same activity of aA equal aB. Potential of EA and EB are measured in according to [30], then selectivity coefficient is calculated by using Nicolsky Eisenman as following Eq. (1)
$$\text{log}{\text{K}}_{\text{A,B}}^{\text{pot}}\text{=} \frac{{\text{(E}}_{\text{B}}\text{-}{\text{E)}}_{\text{A }}{\text{z}}_{\text{A}}\text{F}}{\text{2.303RT}}\text{+}\left(\text{1-}\frac{{\text{z}}_{\text{A}}}{{\text{z}}_{\text{B}}}\right)\text{log} {\text{a}}_{\text{A}}$$
1
where \(\text{log}{\text{K}}_{\text{A,B}}^{\text{pot}}\) is selectivity coefficient, EA and EB are potential of primary and interfering ion ZA is charge number which is integrated with sign of primary ion. ZB is charge number including with sign of interfering ions, F is the Faraday constant equal to 96,485 C mol− 1, R is the gas constant 8.3145 J K− 1 mol− 1 and log aA is logarithm concentration corresponding to primary. Selectivity coefficient of HYD-MMT electrode was shown in Table 4.
Table 4
Selectivity coefficient (\(\text{log}{\text{K}}_{\text{A,B}}^{\text{pot}}\)) of HYD-MMT potentiometric electrode composition of 20:20:60% wt
Interfering ions | \(\text{log}{\text{K}}_{\text{A,B}}^{\text{pot}}\) | Interfering ions | \(\text{log}{\text{K}}_{\text{A,B}}^{\text{pot}}\) |
Cu2+ | -1.13 | Na+ | -1.94 |
Co2+ | -1.20 | K+ | -0.91 |
Cd2+ | -0.92 | F− | -10.45 |
Ni2+ | -1.27 | Cl− | -10.18 |
Cr3+ | -2.21 | Br− | -10.32 |
Mn2+ | -1.22 | I− | -10.33 |
Zn2+ | -1.26 | N\({\text{O}}_{\text{3}}^{\text{-}}\) | -10.41 |
Ca2+ | -1.29 | \(\text{S}{\text{O}}_{\text{4}}^{\text{2-}}\) | -7.45 |
Pb2+ | -1.27 | | |
The resulting exhibited that selectivity coefficient values of electrode for divalent metal ions gave larger values than other ions. However, Nernstian slope of each ion was small and not compatible with theoretical value. This result indicated that electrode composition of 20:20:60% wt showed good selectivity to Hg2+ ion.
3.2.6 EIS
Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is used to study electron transfer and electrochemical behavior at the surface electrode. Montmorillonite bare electrode (MMT) and HYD-MMT working electrode were used to perform EIS measurement in deionized water (DI) and Hg2+ ion solution with Ag/AgCl reference and Pt rod counter electrode by three electrochemical cell configuration. Frequency range was applied from 5 MHz − 0.1 Hz. Nyquist plots were recorded by software 1.4 INTELLO, VIONIC potentiostat/galvanostat, Metrohm Autolab as shown in Fig. 12
EIS results presented that Nyquist plots exhibited semicircle at high frequency during use of MMT (bare) and HYD-MMT as working electrode which correspond to electron transfer at the surface electrode and also Warburg diffusion was observed due to mass transfer at low frequency. Impedance values of HYD-MMT electrode was smaller than when compared with MMT (bare) electrode during performed in 0.001 M Hg2+ ion solution. The propose of electrode behavior could be due to hydrazine in montmorillonite structure could help increasing of electron transfer at the surface electrode.
3.2.7 Analytical application
HYD-MMT potentiometric electrode was undertaken to apply for the determination of Hg2+ ion in real soil sample. Due to the amount of Hg2+ ion in environmental was low, then this studied was attempted to determine Hg2+ ion in real soil sample by standard addition method. Before potentiometric performing, soil sample was mixed with aqua regia and digested by using Transform 800, Aurora, microwave digestion at 200 \(\text{℃}\) with time 1,800 second. Soil digested sample was diluted with DI water by 1:100 ratio. The amount of Hg2+ ion in real soil sample was found at 7.71x10− 3 M as following in Table 5.
Table 5
The amount of Hg2+ ion in real soil sample.
Sample | Hg2+ ion concentration (mol dm− 3), (n = 5) | %RSD |
Soil | 7.71x10− 3 | 0.84 |