VARIATION IN THE OPTICAL SENSING PROPERTIES OF DITHIOCARBAMATE POLYMER MICROSPHERES AS FUNCTION OF SURFACE MORPHOLOGY

Three polymers with N-ethanolamino-, N-benzylamino-, and N-t-butylamino-dithiocarbamate groups were synthesized from polyvinylbenzylchloride. Each of the three polymers was incorporated in a hydrogel membrane (PVA) cross-linked with glutaraldehyde to form a sensing element. The latter was, then, evaluated for its optical sensing behavior by subjecting it to varying concentrations (1.0x10 -5 up to 0.1 M) of metal ions (Zn 2+ , Cd 2+ , Pb 2+