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Progressive Cellular Architecture in Microscale Gas Chromatography for Broad Chemical Analyses.

Authors :
Liao, Weilin
Zhao, Xiangyu
Lu, Hsueh-Tsung
Byambadorj, Tsenguun
Qin, Yutao
Gianchandani, Yogesh B.
Chowdhury, Sazzadur
Source :
Sensors (14248220); May2021, Vol. 21 Issue 9, p3089-3089, 1p
Publication Year :
2021

Abstract

Gas chromatography is widely used to identify and quantify volatile organic compounds for applications ranging from environmental monitoring to homeland security. We investigate a new architecture for microfabricated gas chromatography systems that can significantly improve the range, speed, and efficiency of such systems. By using a cellular approach, it performs a partial separation of analytes even as the sampling is being performed. The subsequent separation step is then rapidly performed within each cell. The cells, each of which contains a preconcentrator and separation column, are arranged in progression of retentiveness. While accommodating a wide range of analytes, this progressive cellular architecture (PCA) also provides a pathway to improving energy efficiency and lifetime by reducing the need for heating the separation columns. As a proof of concept, a three-cell subsystem (PCA3mv) has been built; it incorporates a number of microfabricated components, including preconcentrators, separation columns, valves, connectors, and a carrier gas filter. The preconcentrator and separation column of each cell are monolithically implemented as a single chip that has a footprint of 1.8 × 5.2 cm<superscript>2</superscript>. This subsystem also incorporates two manifold arrays of microfabricated valves, each of which has a footprint of 1.3 × 1.4 cm<superscript>2</superscript>. Operated together with a commercial flame ionization detector, the subsystem has been tested against polar and nonpolar analytes (including alkanes, alcohols, aromatics, and phosphonate esters) over a molecular weight range of 32–212 g/mol and a vapor pressure range of 0.005–231 mmHg. The separations require an average column temperature of 63–68 °C within a duration of 12 min, and provide separation resolutions >2 for any two homologues that differ by one methyl group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
14248220
Volume :
21
Issue :
9
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Sensors (14248220)
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
150381689
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/s21093089