Abstract: The transfer of nitrite ions through bulk liquid membrane mediated by tetra-alkyltin carriers was studied experimentally.The length of the carbon-chain in the car-rier molecules has substantial effect on the NO₂^--transfer, which is closely related to the response characteristic of the nitrite-sensitive electrodes prepared by the use of thesecarriers. The effects of the concentration of tetraalkyltin and nitrite ion, and the nature of counter ions on the transport rates of nitrite were studied.The relationship between these phenomena and the properties of electrodes based on tetraalkyltin carriers are discussed.The experimental results are interpreted in terms of the ion-pair mechanism, of neutral carrier-mediated ion transport.

Key words: Bulk liquid membrane, Neutral carrier, Tetraalkyltin, Transfer of nitrite ion