A microfluidic paper-based impedimetric device was developed as a
water hardness sensor. This device is capable of performing the
analysis with a sample volume of a few microliters with no prior
treatments. A phenol-formaldehyde graphene electrode modified with
ethylenediaminetetraacetate was used as the working electrode. Ag
pseudo reference and carbon electrodes were used to fabricate the
device. Current simultaneous metal ion detection sensors are based on
complex and expensive electrode setups. The proposed inexpensive,
quick and portable device is capable of detecting Ca2+ and Mg2+
simultaneously. Electrode double layer-based charge transfer
resistance and the maximum negative imaginary impedance produced a
linear correlation with each metal ion concentration. The calculated
limits of detection for Ca2+ and Mg2+ were 0.31 and 0.24 ppm,
respectively. A set of samples containing Ca2+ and Mg2+ with a
hardness of 2 ppm (as calcium carbonate) were used to test the device.
The proposed tool is suitable as a semi-quantitative device for the
determination of hardness in water.
A microfluidic paper-based impedimetric device was developed as a
water hardness sensor. This device is capable of performing the
analysis with a sample volume of a few microliters with no prior
treatments. A phenol-formaldehyde graphene electrode modified with
ethylenediaminetetraacetate was used as the working electrode. Ag
pseudo reference and carbon electrodes were used to fabricate the
device. Current simultaneous metal ion detection sensors are based on
complex and expensive electrode setups. The proposed inexpensive,
quick and portable device is capable of detecting Ca2+ and Mg2+
simultaneously. Electrode double layer-based charge transfer
resistance and the maximum negative imaginary impedance produced a
linear correlation with each metal ion concentration. The calculated
limits of detection for Ca2+ and Mg2+ were 0.31 and 0.24 ppm,
respectively. A set of samples containing Ca2+ and Mg2+ with a
hardness of 2 ppm (as calcium carbonate) were used to test the device.
The proposed tool is suitable as a semi-quantitative device for the
determination of hardness in water.
