%0 Journal Article %T Free Base Porphyrins as Ionophores for Heavy Metal Sensors %A Dana Vlascici %A Eugenia Fagadar-Cosma %A Elena Maria Pica %A Viorica Cosma %A Otilia Bizerea %A Gheorghe Mihailescu %A Liliana Olenic %J Sensors %D 2008 %I MDPI AG %R 10.3390/s8084995 %X Two functionalized porphyrins: 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) porphyrin (A) and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin (B) obtained and characterized by us were used as ionophores (I) for preparing PVC-based membrane sensors selective to Ag+, Pb2+ and Cu2+. The membranes were prepared using three different plasticizers: (bis(2-ethylhexyl)sebacate (DOS), dioctylphtalate (DOP), o-nitrophenyl octyl ether (NPOE) and potassium tetrakis(4-chlorophenyl)borate (KTClPB) as additive. The functional parameters (linear concentration range, slope and selectivity) of the sensors with membrane composition: (I:PVC:KTClPB:Plasticizer) in different ratios were investigated. The best results were obtained for the membranes in the ratio I:PVC:KTClPB:Plasticizer 10:165:5:330. The influence of pH on the sensors response was studied. The sensors were used for a period of four months and their utility has been tested on synthetic and real samples. %K Porphyrins %K ionophores %K sensors %K heavy metals %K PVC-matrix. %U http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/8/8/4995