Development of a micro-distillation microfluidic paper-based analytical device as a screening tool for total ammonia monitoring in freshwaters

Abstract

An easy-to-use, portable 3D microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD) for the determination of total ammonia (i.e., ammonia + ammonium) in freshwaters is described. It consists of two layers of paper patterned with hydrophilic circular zones, one impregnated with sodium hydroxide (sample zone) and another (detection zone) with an acid-base indicator (nitrazine yellow (NY) or bromothymol blue (BTB)), separated by a μ-distillation chamber. Ammonium ions present in the water sample are converted into ammonia gas by reaction with sodium hydroxide in the sample zone. Ammonia then diffuses through a headspace and reacts with an acid-base indicator in the detection zone, the reflectance of ..