A new optical sensor was fabricated for determination of beryllium ions. The optode membrane was prepared by incorporation of 1,8-dihydroxyanthrone and sodium tetraphenylborate (NaTPB) in a plasticized poly (vinyl chloride) membrane containing ortho-nitrophenyl octyl ether (o-NPOE) as a plasticizer. Color of the sensing membrane in contact with Be(2+) ions at pH 10.5, was changed from orange to red. The different variables affecting uptake efficiency were evaluated and optimized. Under the optimum conditions (i.e. 28.0% PVC, 60.0% o-NPOE, 8.0% 1,8-dihydroxyanthrone, 4.0% NaTPB and response time of 6 min), the proposed sensor displayed a linear range of 0.1-5 mu g mL(-1) with a detection limit of 0.03 mu g mL(-1). Also the precision (RSD%) was better than 2.9% for 7 replicate determinations of 1 mu g mL(-1) Be in various membranes. The selectivity of the probe was studied for some cations and anions. Experimental results showed that the sensor was high selective in the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as a masking agent and could be used as an effective tool in analyzing the beryllium content of water samples. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.