Evaluation of Magnetic Ionic Liquids for Voltammetric and Potentiometric Analyses of Environmental, Pharmaceutical, and Food Samples

• Grant number: 25/19499-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: October 01, 2025
• End date: September 30, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Diogo Librandi da Rocha
• Grantee: Felipe Silva Andrade
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 24/06616-8 - Exploiting magnetic properties for the development of modern extraction strategies e construction of sensors for analytical applications, AP.R

Abstract

Magnetic ionic liquids (MILs) have been used in various applications, particularly in liquid-liquid microextractions for elemental determinations and chromatographic separations. However, MILs have not yet been explored for the development of voltammetric procedures or the construction of ion-selective electrodes. In this project, MILs will be evaluated for the voltammetric determination of anionic surfactants in water samples. The ionic pair formed with methylene blue will be extracted into the organic phase, which will then be collected using a magnetic electrode developed in the laboratory, followed by voltammetric analysis. MILs will also be investigated for the construction of a selective membrane electrode for the potentiometric determination of calcium ions in food and pharmaceutical preparations, also employing a magnetic electrode. After sensor development, calibrations will be performed to evaluate pH range, ionic strength, and detection limit. For both procedures, key chemical parameters will be optimized. Once the analytical features are established, the accuracy of the methods will be assessed through comparative analysis of samples and recovery studies. The project aims to develop a rapid method with low solvent consumption for water analysis using liquid-liquid extraction, as well as a simple and fast-to-produce ion-selective membrane, avoiding the use of some components commonly found in polymeric membranes, such as mediator solvents.