Lithium Reagent Composition for Visual Colorimetric Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for measuring lithium concentration in biological samples are hindered by the use of poisonous and expensive reagents, instability at high pH levels, and the need for large-scale equipment, making on-site monitoring and quick emergency inspections challenging.

Innovation Solution

A lithium reagent composition using F28 tetraphenylporphyrin, where all hydrogen atoms are replaced by fluorine, is used in an aqueous solution with a pH regulator and buffer, allowing for visual detection of lithium concentration through color change from yellow to red, enabling quick and accurate measurement in a range of 0.0mM to 4.5mM.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional lithium reagent compositions are used, then lithium concentration can be measured, but the reagents are poisonous and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelithium concentration measurementVSAvoidreagent toxicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive and poisonous conventional reagents with a cheaper, safer alternative reagent system based on F28 tetraphenylporphyrin. This new reagent composition achieves the same measurement function without the harmful properties of previous reagents, effectively substituting toxic substances with benign ones while maintaining measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Measurement precision

If reagents requiring pH > 11 are used, then lithium concentration can be measured, but the reagents are unstable with CO2 in air and require special handling equipment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelithium concentration measurementVSAvoidreagent handling
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the pH parameter requirement from >11 to a lower range, making the reagent stable in ordinary conditions. By adjusting the chemical composition to work at lower pH levels, the reagent no longer requires special handling equipment or precautions against CO2 absorption, enabling routine laboratory use without specialized infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If conventional measurement methods are used, then lithium concentration can be determined, but large-scale equipment is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelithium concentration determinationVSAvoidequipment scale
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical measurement systems with a simple colorimetric detection method. Instead of requiring large-scale analytical equipment, the measurement is achieved through visual or spectral detection of color changes in the reagent solution, which can be performed with basic laboratory equipment or even naked-eye observation, dramatically simplifying the measurement system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Measurement precision

If reagents that dissolve slowly or deactivate in water are used, then lithium concentration can be measured, but the coloring reaction is very slow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelithium concentration measurementVSAvoidcoloring reaction speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the reagent composition to include F28 tetraphenylporphyrin, which exhibits rapid solubility and reactivity in aqueous solutions. This chemical parameter change ensures fast coloring reaction kinetics, allowing the measurement to be completed quickly without sacrificing accuracy, thereby improving throughput and productivity of the analytical method.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method allows for rapid, quantitative, and visually detectable lithium concentration measurement in serum and plasma samples, facilitating emergency inspections and reducing the need for large equipment, with clear color changes corresponding to therapeutic and toxic levels.

Implementation Method 1

a first reagent and a second reagent are mixed before use to prepare a lithium reagent composition. The lithium reagent composition is contacted with a specimen or a test substance... by irradiating the resulting solution with white light, and by detecting change in color tone

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectColorimetric reaction: Absorption Spectroscopy

Implementation Method 2

by irradiating the resulting solution with white light... a photochemical tautomerization reaction is promoted, so that a vivid green color is developed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotochemical tautomerization: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentEP2927683B1Method for judging the concentration of lithium in biomaterial samples
Publication Date: 2018.02.21 METALLOGENICS
  • EP2927683B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2927683B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2927683B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

[Problem] To provide to a method for measuring and examining lithium ions in an aqueous solution of a specimen such as biomaterials or environment samples, by using a lithium reagent composition as a coloration reaction reagent and by visual observing or a simple a colorimeter. [Solution] The lithium ions measuring method is characterized by contacting the specimen including serum and plasma test sample with an aqueous solution of a lithium reagent composition comprising a tetraphenyl porphyrin compound, a pH regulator and a pH buffer, by irradiating or expose the resulting solution with white light, and by detecting change in color tone by a visual observation or by detecting the sensitivity by a colorimeter.