A Ukrainian University offers a test system for visual determination of Cu(II) and Ni(II)

The Ukrainian University since 1991 works on visual-test systems developing and has experience in the field of their application in clinical analysis, soil, water and food quality control. They have developed test systems for cooper(II) ions determination in serum and urine, and nickel(II) ions in saliva after ultrasonic samples pretreatment. The interaction of metal ions in solution with organic reagent immobilized on silica surface (solid-phase reagent, SPR) is utilized in the simple screening visual tests. The test is simple and inexpensive yet sensitive and informative based on color changes of SPR in the presence of metal ions in samples. The technique of SPR obtaining is low cost, time and reagent consuming. It based on organic reagent absorption onto silica surface from organic solvent. Time of SPR preparing is 1 hour, and SPR stable for 1 year. Sample amount: 5-10 mL Sample pH: 3.5 for Cu(II), 5.0 for Ni(II) SPR amount: 0.100 g Ultrasonic sample pretreatment time: 2 min. Phase contact time: 5 min for Cu(II), 15 min for Ni(II) Sensitivity: 50 μg/L for Cu(II), 120 μg/L for Ni(II). Prospects of application in the market: clinical analysis laboratories. The Ukrainian University wishes to team up with analytical chemistry companies but also researchers who interesting in metal ions determination in biological liquids. The University is looking for cooperation that will bring the test systems to the market on a large scale. Type of cooperation: commercial agency agreement with technical assistance.