A　novel　polyvinyl　chloride　(PVC)　matrix　membrane　sensor　responsive　to　inorganic　phosphate　ion　was　described.　The　working　pH　range　is　4.0-6.0　and　the　response　time　is　about　7.5　min.　Under　the　optimum　condition,　the　sensor　displayed　a　good　linear　response　for　H2PO4-　anion　over　the　concentration　range　6.00-15.00　mu　g/ml　with　a　limit　detection　of　0.02　mu　g/ml.　The　life　span　of　membrane　sensors　is　90-120　days,　and　it　could　be　used　for　60　times　with　several　supplements　of　the　fluorescent　probe.　Applied　for　the　determination　of　phosphate　at　levels　of　8.00-12.00　mu　g/ml　in　artificial　seawater,　the　recoveries　ranged　from　96.6%　to　103.8%,　and　the　relative　standard　deviation　was　less　than　4%.　(c)　2006　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.