Novel variable volume injector for performing sample introduction in a miniaturised isotachophoresis device

A microdevice design furnished with a novel sample injector, capable of delivering variable volume samples, for miniaturised isotachophoretic separations is presented. Micromachining by direct milling was used to realise two flow channel network designs on poly(methyl methacrylate) chips. Both designs comprised a wide bore sample channel interfaced, via a short connection channel, to a narrow bore separation channel. Superior injection performance was observed with a connection channel angled at 45 degrees to the separation channel compared to a device using a channel angled at 90 degrees. Automated delivery of electrolytes to the microdevice was demonstrated with both hydrostatic pumping and syringe pumps; both gave reproducible sample injection. A range of different sampling strategies were investigated. Isotachophoretic separations of model analytes (metal ions and an anionic dye) demonstrated the potential of the device. Separations of ten metal cations were achieved in under 475 s.

Determination of inorganic selenium species by miniaturised isotachophoresis on a planar polymer chip

The use of miniaturised isotachophoresis to allow the simultaneous determination of two inorganic selenium species has been investigated using a poly(methyl methacrylate) chip with a 44-mm-long, 200-microm-wide, 300-microm-deep separation channel. The miniaturised device included an integrated on-column, dual-electrode conductivity detector and was used in conjunction with a hydrodynamic fluid transport system. A simple electrolyte system has been developed which allowed the separation of selenium(IV) and selenium(VI) species to be made in under 210 s. The limits of detection were calculated to be 0.52 mg L(-1) for selenium(IV) and 0.65 mg L(-1 )for selenium(VI). The method allowed the separation of the selenium species from a range of common anions including fluoride, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, sulfate and sulfite.

Conductimetric and potentiometric detection in conventional and microchip capillary electrophoresis

Potentiometric detection is rarely used in separation methods but is promising for certain classes of analytes which can only with difficulty be quantified by more standard methods. Conductimetric detection of ions is very versatile and has recently received renewed interest spurned by the introduction of the capacitively coupled contactless configuration. Both are useful and complementary alternatives to the established optical detection methods, and to the more widely known electrochemical method of amperometry. The simplicity of the electrochemical methods makes them particularly attractive for microfabricated devices, but relatively little work has to date been carried out with regard to potentiometric and conductimetric detection.

A microchip electrophoresis system with integrated in-plane electrodes for contactless conductivity detection

We present a new approach for contactless conductivity detection for microchip-based capillary electrophoresis (CE). The detector integrates easily with well-known microfabrication techniques for glass-based microfluidic devices. Platinum electrodes are structured in recesses in-plane with the microchannel network after glass etching, which allows precise positioning and batch fabrication of the electrodes. A thin glass wall of 10-15 microm separates the electrodes and the buffer electrolyte in the separation channel to achieve the electrical insulation necessary for contactless operation. The effective separation length is 34 mm, with a channel width of 50 microm and depth of 12 microm. Microchip CE devices with conductivity detection were characterized in terms of sensitivity and linearity of response, and were tested using samples containing up to three small cations. The limit of detection for K+ (18 microM) is good, though an order of magnitude higher than for comparable capillary-based systems and one recently reported example of contactless conductivity on chip. However, an integrated field-amplified stacking step could be employed prior to CE to preconcentrate the sample ions by a factor of four.

Sample preconcentration by field amplification stacking for microchip-based capillary electrophoresis

A microchip structure for field amplification stacking (FAS) was developed, which allowed the formation of comparatively long, volumetrically defined sample plugs with a minimal electrophoretic bias. Up to 20-fold signal gains were achieved by injection and separation of 400 microm long plugs in a 7.5 cm long channel. We studied fluidic effects arising when solutions with mismatched ionic strengths are electrokinetically handled on microchips. In particular, the generation of pressure-driven Poiseuille flow effects in the capillary system due to different electroosmotic flow velocities in adjacent solution zones could clearly be observed by video imaging. The formation of a sample plug, stacking of the analyte and subsequent release into the separation column showed that careful control of electric fields in the side channels of the injection element is essential. To further improve the signal gain, a new chip layout was developed for full-column stacking with subsequent sample matrix removal by polarity switching. The design features a coupled-column structure with separate stacking and capillary electrophoresis (CE) channels, showing signal enhancements of up to 65-fold for a 69 mm long stacking channel.