Highly integrated autonomous lab-on-a-chip device for on-line and in situ determination of environmental chemical parameters Articles uri icon

publication date

  • July 2018

start page

  • 1884

end page

  • 1890

issue

  • 13

volume

  • 18

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 1473-0197

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1473-0189

abstract

  • The successful integration of sample pretreatment stages, sensors, actuators and electronics in microfluidic devices enables the attainment of complete micro total analysis systems, also known as lab-on-a-chip devices. In this work, we present a novel monolithic autonomous microanalyzer that integrates microfluidics, electronics, a highly sensitive photometric detection system and a sample pretreatment stage consisting on an embedded microcolumn, all in the same device, for on-line determination of relevant environmental parameters. The microcolumn can be filled/emptied with any resin or powder substrate whenever required, paving the way for its application to several analytical processes: separation, pre-concentration or ionic-exchange. To promote its autonomous operation, avoiding issues caused by bubbles in photometric detection systems, an efficient monolithic bubble removal structure was also integrated. To demonstrate its feasibility, the microanalyzer was successfully used to determine nitrate and nitrite in continuous flow conditions, providing real time and continuous information.

subjects

  • Materials science and engineering

keywords

  • lab-on-a-chip; photometric detection; environmental parameters