Um micro flow-batch para determinação fotométrica e turbidimétrica de taninos em amostras de chás

Abstract

This study proposed a miniaturized flow-batch system for chemical analysis. The technique used microfabricated urethane-acrylate, a commercial polymer. The microsystem was evaluated and optimized by analysis of synthetic dye samples. Afterwards, it was employed for the determination of tannins in tea samples. The tannins are a group of polyphenols of significant relevance in the food industry and pharmaceuticals. The samples used were green and black tea, obtained from the local market. The determinations were performed by turbidimetric methods using copper (II) in an acetate medium, with photometric methods and ferrous tartrate as a reference. Miniaturization in urethane-acrylate implies low cost and low maintenance, rapid prototyping and includes the satisfactory physicochemical properties of polymer. These characteristics combined with the general advantages of miniaturization in analytical devices, such as high frequency analysis and low waste generation, make the system a great source in academic research. For analysis of tannins in tea samples, the system had precise and accurate results, and high speeds. This flow-batch microsystem was able to perform up to 300 tests per hour, for the photometric method of reference and up to 200 tests per hour for the turbidimetric method. Each analysis performed generated waste volumes lower than 70 μL. Data validation of statistical models obtained have proved very satisfactory and promising for new optical applications.