Microtitration

Microtitration refers to a type of titration performed using very small volumes of reagents and analytes, typically in the microliter range. This technique is employed when the sample is scarce or when high precision is required for analyzing dilute solutions. It necessitates specialized equipment, such as microburettes, micropipettes, and microtitration plates or cells. The principles of titration remain the same: a solution of known concentration (titrant) is gradually added to a solution of unknown concentration (analyte) until a reaction is complete, indicated by a visual or instrumental endpoint.

The advantages of microtitration include reduced consumption of expensive or hazardous reagents, minimizing waste, and potentially achieving higher precision due to smaller errors in volume measurements relative to the total volume. It is particularly useful in fields like clinical chemistry, pharmaceutical analysis, and environmental monitoring where sample volumes are often limited. Challenges can include precise dispensing of minute volumes, maintaining homogeneous mixing, and accurate detection of the endpoint in such small scales. Despite these challenges, microtitration offers an efficient and sensitive method for quantitative analysis.