Colorimetric detection of solution concentration based on a paper-based microfluidic device

Abstract

A new method for colorimetric detection of solution concentration is presented. A paper-based microfluidic device was designed and made using printed circuit board technology. Detection zone patterns were designed and transferred to a printed circuit board by hollowing technology. The printed circuit board with patterns was stuck onto a copper sheet. The hollowed zone was filled with solid paraffin and then covered with a piece of filter paper. The paraffin wax was melted by heating the copper sheet and permeated into the filter paper. Solution to be detected was pipetted on the paper-based device with detective zones. The images of the detective zones were obtained using a microscope with charge-coupled device, which is used for calculating RGBI model to further obtain the solution concentration. Litmus was demonstrated in sample experiments. Results showed that maximum error of measured value of solution concentration to its true value is less than 2% using the presented method.