Miscellaneous Analytical Tasks by Potentiometric Methods

One of the main advantages of potentiometric methods is that the analysis can be done in line with sampling, sample preparation, and treatments. However, when soaking transducers in samples of high protein, lipid, or other bio matter content, electrode fouling caused by adsorbed biofilm can be expected [36]. The biofilm adsorbed can slow down the response time of the electrodes or it can make local pH changes. 

Mapping pH and concentration of main ionic components of soil is an obvious step in trying to improve the productivity of different crop production together with limiting the negative environmental impacts of fertilization and soil treatments. 

This sampling-analyzing apparatus was used by Adamchuk and coworkers [43] in their comparative study conducted to explore the feasibility of application pH, K , N03, and 

Na+ ISEs in field mapping with potentiometric direct soil measurements (DSM). In these works, samples were taken at different locations and analyzed in the laboratory by the apparatus. Reference measurements also were conducted in commercial soil laboratories by conventional laboratory methods. Three pH electrodes, two K+, two N03, and one Na electrodes were selected for the experiments. 

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