%0 Journal Article
%T In-situ sampling of available calcium using diffusive gradients in thin-films technique based on benzo-crown ether-functionalised silica as the binding agent
%A Hong-Guang Cao
%A Hong-Tao Fan
%A Hui Yao
%A Jin-Bao Wu
%A Li-Xia Kang
%A Nan You
%A Yan-Li Yi
%A Yu-Jie Zhao
%J Environmental Chemistry
%D 2018
%R 10.1071/EN17228
%X Environmental context. Low availability of calcium (Ca2+) in soils is one of the major factors in Ca2+ deficiency of plants and physiological plant disorders. A device based on functionalised silica was developed for in-situ measurement of the available Ca2+ in soils. Application of the proposed device to measure available Ca2+ may help to develop and improve agricultural practices. Abstract. Calcium is an ion of particular interest due to its importance in plant nutrition and soil structure. A novel device of diffusion gradients in thin-films (DGT) based on the benzo-crown ether-functionalised silica (BCES) as the binding agent and the polyethersulfone (PES) membrane as diffusive layer (BCES-DGT) was developed for in-situ sampling of available calcium (Ca2+) in freshwater and soil samples. The performance characteristics of the BCES-DGT device were assessed. The BCES was prepared using the sol-gel process and characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis and N2 adsorption¨Cdesorption. Results evinced that BCES was obtained successfully with a rough wrinkled surface and good specific surface area of 111.3£¿m2£¿g£¿1. The diffusion coefficient of Ca2+ ions in PES membrane was found to be 1.23£¿¡Á£¿10£¿6£¿cm2£¿s£¿1 at 25£¿¡ãC and was independent of pH in the range of 3¨C10 and ionic strength (as pNaCl) from 1 to 3. The high binding capacity of BCES binding gel for Ca2+ ions was determined to be 9822.4£¿¡À£¿452.9£¿¦Ìg Ca2+/disk and was conducive to the deployment of long-term or high concentration. The BCES-DGT device can accurately measure the concentrations of Ca2+ over wide ranges of ionic strengths (1¨C3 as pNaCl) and pH (5¨C10). There was no significant interference on the uptake of Ca2+ by the BCES-DGT device at the tolerance limits up to 500 for Mg2+, Li+, HCO3£¿, H2PO4£¿, NO3£¿ and SO42£¿, 250 for Sr2+, 2000 for K+ and 50 for fulvic acid. The results from BCES-DGT device were in excellent agreement with those measured directly using ion selective electrode in several water and soil samples. Field application in river water indicated that a good agreement was obtained between BCES-DGT value and mean grab sample measurements of Ca2+ and that the relative standard deviation of BCES-DGT measurement (4.7£¿%) was superior to that of grab sample measurements (13.5£¿%), suggesting that BCES-DGT was reliable for in-situ sampling and measurement of available Ca2+ with good accuracy and precision.
%U http://www.publish.csiro.au/EN/fulltext/EN17228