Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of Paper-Based Devices for the Detection of Acetaminophen and Phenacetin in an Advanced Undergraduate Laboratory

Reported herein is a multidisciplinary experiment for senior-level undergraduate teaching laboratories in the synthesis of the analytes acetaminophen and phenacetin; the fabrication of paper-based devices, using eyeliner, acrylic spray paint, or wax-printing, for sensing of those analytes; and the use of the newly fabricated devices for successful qualitative and quantitative analyte detection. This experiment includes elements of organic, analytical, and materials chemistry, as well as device engineering, and provides a strong pedagogical experience for the undergraduate student participants. The experiment was tested over two years in the Advanced Organic Laboratory, and 90% of students over the two years successfully completed all experimental objectives. The modular nature of the reported experiments and inexpensive costs of materials and instrumentation significantly enhance the practical applicability of this experiment and the likelihood of widespread adaptation.