ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Lawsone–based potentiometric sensors and their applications: Highly sensitive detection of Pb²⁺ ions in environmental water samples

Mehmet Emin Cakmak, Oguz Özbek, Kıymet Berkil Akar, Caglar Berkel, Meliha Burcu Gürdere, and Ömer Isildak

Faculty of Science and Arts, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, Tokat, Türkiye

E-mail: oguz.ozbek@gop.edu.tr

Received: 15 May 2026  Accepted: 6 June 2026

Abstract:

This study reports the development of novel Pb²⁺–selective PVC membrane sensors based on lawsone derivative molecules used as ionophores for the determination of Pb²⁺ ions in different environmental water samples. Among the developed sensors, the optimum membrane sensor displayed a near–Nernstian response of 25.0 ± 3.11 mV/decade over a wide linear concentration range of 1.0 × 10^− 1–1.0 × 10^− 6 M, with a low limit of detection of 3.97 × 10^− 7 M. The proposed sensor demonstrated a rapid response time of approximately 8 s during concentration transitions, and also showed an excellent selectivity toward Pb²⁺ ions in the presence of various potentially interfering ions. In addition, the sensor worked effectively within a broad pH range of 4.0–10.0. The applicability of the novel sensor was successfully demonstrated in the analysis of Pb²⁺ ions in various water samples. The obtained results indicate that PVC membrane sensors incorporating lawsone derivative ionophores offer a simple, rapid, selective and reliable approach for the determination of Pb²⁺ ions in environmental samples.

Keywords: Lawsone; Ionophore; Sensor; Potentiometry; Heavy metals

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-026-05184-8

Chemical Papers 80 (11) 13347–13355 (2026)