Some aspects of the use of heteropoly anions in elemental analysis by simple potentiometric ion-pair formation-based titration.

The possibility of the use of heteropoly anions formed by addition of phosphate to the solutions of either molybdate or tungstate in the determination of phosphorus by the simple method of potentiometric titration was studied. The heteropoly anions are titrated on the ion-pairing principle using a titrant containing a lipophilic counter-ion, i.e. 1-(ethoxycarbonyl)pentadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (Septonex), the titration being monitored by carbon paste electrode, although other liquid membrane-based electrodes can also be used. Calibration plots of the titrant end-point consumption vs. concentration are not linear, but allow one to evaluate the content of phosphorus. Similar procedures, when optimized, should be elaborated for determination of numerous other elements forming heteropoly anions.