Reagent-deposited
pieces of paper were characterized by the use
of a compact conductometer, a compact pH sensor, and a conventional
spectrophotometer to assess their suitability for use as reagent containers.
The pieces of paper were fabricated by wax printing to form a limited
hydrophilic area to which a consistent volume of an aqueous reagent
could be added. The pieces of paper without the reagent increased
the conductivity of water gradually because of the release of sodium
salts, whereas pH of NaOH decreased because of the acidity of the
functional groups in the paper. Three reagents, sulfamic acid as an
acid, Na2CO3 as a base, and BaCl2 as a metal salt, were deposited on the pieces of paper to evaluate
their ability to release from the pieces of paper. Sulfamic acid and
Na2CO3 were released in quantities of 58 and
73% into water after 420 s, whereas 100% of BaCl2 was released
after 480 s. The conductometric titrations of NaOH, HCl, and Na2SO4, and the spectrophotometry of Fe2+ were examined using the pieces of paper that contained sulfamic
acid, Na2CO3, BaCl2, and 1,10-phenanthroline.
Titrations using the pieces of paper suggested that the reagents were
quantitatively released into the titrant, which resulted in a linear
relationship between the endpoints and the equivalent points. In 120
s of soaking time, 60–70% of the reagents were released. The
spectrophotometric measurements of Fe2+ indicated that
when an excess amount of the reagents was deposited onto the pieces
of paper, they nonetheless sufficiently fulfilled the role of a reagent
container.