Development of a potentiometric flufenamate ISE and its application to pharmaceutical and clinical analyses

The characteristics, performance, and application of an electrode, namely, Pt vertical bar Hg vertical bar Hg-2(FF)(2)vertical bar Graphite, where FF stands for flufenamate ion, are described. This electrode responds to FF with sensitivity of (-58.6 +/- 1.2) mV decade(-1) over the range 1.0 x 10(-6) - 1.0 x 10(-2) mol L-1 at pH 6.0-9.0 and a detection limit of 7.1 x 10(-7) mol L-1. The electrode is easily constructed at a relatively low cost with fast response time (within 10-25 s) and can be used for a period of 5 months without any considerable change in its performance characteristics. The proposed electrode displayed good selectivity for flufenamate in the presence of several substances as well as in the presence of some carboxylate and inorganic anions. The electrode was successfully applied to the determination of flufenamic acid in pharmaceuticals and human serum samples.