Cobalt(II) Hematoporphyrin IX immobilized in a cellulose acetate niobium(V) oxide composite membrane: preparation and oxygen reduction study

Hematoporphyrin IX [8,13,-bis(1-hydroxyethyl)-3,7,12,17-tetramethyl-21H-porphyrin-2,18-dipropionic acid] was adsorbed on the organic-inorganic composite membrane Cel/Nb2O5 surface. The porphyrin is strongly adhered on the Nb2O5 surface by reaction of the porphyrin CO2H groups with Nb2O5 forming the -COO-Nb chemical bond. Metallation of the porphyrine ring was made very easily by immersing the membrane in Co(II) solution and allowing to rest for a few hours. The electronic absorption bands due to the Q bands indicated the symmetry change from D2h to D4h upon metallation of the porphyrin ring. The chemical analyses of the material confirmed that the metallation yield was practically 100%. Oxygen was reduced on a electrode surface made with the material under a cathodic peak potential of -390 mV, in 1 M KCl solution at pH 1, temperature of 298 K and at ambient pressure. The oxygen reduction was proposed to occur by a two electron transfer mechanism. A linear cathodic peak current response was obtained for dissolved oxygen concentrations between 1.5 and 15 ppm