Superhydrophobic Paper Strips with Embedded Agarose-Anthocyanin Mini-Discs for Point-of-Need Quantitative pH...

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Traditional pH paper offers convenience but lacks quantitative accuracy and uses potentially toxic dyes.
• Electronic pH meters provide accuracy but are cumbersome and require calibration.
• A need exists for a convenient, accurate, and safe pH testing method for various applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, quantitative pH test strip using readily available materials.
• To create a user-friendly pH testing method suitable for point-of-need analysis.
• To offer an alternative to conventional pH paper and meters.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of pH test strips using superhydrophobic paper and agarose-anthocyanin film discs.
• Colorimetric analysis of the film discs after sample immersion using a portable scanner or smartphone.
• Quantification of pH by correlating RGB color values with a calibration curve generated from standard buffer solutions.

Main Results:

• The developed test strips provide quantitative pH measurements with accuracy and precision comparable to pH meters.
• The method allows for convenient, on-site pH analysis of beverages and other liquids.
• The system enables multiplexed testing, enhancing efficiency.

Conclusions:

• The superhydrophobic paper and anthocyanin-based pH test strips offer a practical and accurate alternative for quantitative pH analysis.
• This method combines the convenience of pH paper with the accuracy of pH meters.
• The developed test strips are suitable for point-of-need pH determination in various settings.