A microfluidic device for open loop stripping of volatile organic compounds

• Published in: Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry 2013-03, Vol.405 (8), p.2417-2423
• Main Authors: Cvetković, Benjamin Z., Dittrich, Petra S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ABC Highlights: authored by Rising Stars and Top Experts; Analytical Chemistry; Analytical instruments; Automation; Biochemistry; Blood vessels; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemical properties; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chromatography; Devices; Drinking water; Engineering design; Flow rates; Food Science; Fresh Water - chemistry; Gas phases; Identification and classification; Laboratory Medicine; Methods; Methyl alcohol; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques - instrumentation; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques - methods; Microfluidics; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Nitrogen; Ochratoxin A; Organic compounds; Organic solvents; Original Paper; Pollution detection; Process control; Process controls; Semiconductors; Solvents; Stripping; Toluene; VOCs; Volatile organic compounds; Volatile Organic Compounds - chemistry; Volatilization
• ISSN: 1618-2642; 1618-2650
• DOI: 10.1007/s00216-012-6604-4

The detection of volatile organic compounds is of great importance for assessing the quality of water. In this contribution, we describe a miniaturized stripping device that allows fast online detection of organic solvents in water. The core component is a glass microfluidic chip that facilitates the creation of an annular-flowing stream of water and nitrogen gas. Volatile compounds are transferred efficiently from the water into the gas phase along the microfluidic pathway at room temperature within less than 5 s. Before exiting the microchip, the liquid phase is separated from the enriched gas phase by incorporating side capillaries through which the hydrophilic water phase is withdrawn. The gas phase is conveniently collected at the outlet reservoir by tubing. Finally, a semiconductor gas sensor analyzes the concentration of (volatile) organic compounds in the nitrogen gas. The operation and use of the stripping device is demonstrated for the organic solvents THF, 1-propanol, toluene, ethylbenzene, benzaldehyde, and methanol. The mobile, inexpensive, and continuously operating system with liquid flow rates in the low range of microliters per minute can be connected to other detectors or implemented in chemical production line for process control. Figure We present a microfluidic device for highly efficient analytical stripping of organic solvents from water/solvent mixtures at room temperature