Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 29, 2026
10:32
On-chip Isotachophoresis for Separation of Ions and Purification of Nucleic Acids
Published on: March 2, 2012
27.7K
ITP of lanthanides in microfluidic PMMA chip.
Yongzheng Cong1, Danny Bottenus, Bingwen Liu
1Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
Electrophoresis
|November 22, 2013
Summary
This study demonstrates rapid separation of eight lanthanides using Isotachophoresis (ITP) on a microchip. The method utilizes complexing agents and a specialized microchip for efficient analyte concentration and separation.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Separation Science
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Lanthanide separation is crucial in various fields.
- Traditional methods are often time-consuming and complex.
- Microfluidic devices offer potential for faster and more efficient separations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a rapid method for separating eight lanthanides.
- To utilize Isotachophoresis (ITP) in a microfluidic chip format.
- To validate experimental results with numerical simulations.
Main Methods:
- Developed a serpentine Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) microchip with a tee junction.
- Employed Isotachophoresis (ITP) with acetate and α-hydroxyisobutyric acid as complexing agents.
- Used C(4)D detection in microchip mode for lanthanide migration analysis.
- Performed 2D numerical simulations using COMSOL Multiphysics v4.3a.
Main Results:
- Successfully separated eight lanthanides within approximately 6 minutes.
- Achieved concentration of lanthanides using ITP in the microchip.
- Optimized leading electrolyte (10 mM ammonium acetate, pH 4.5) and terminating electrolyte (10 mM acetic acid, pH ~3.0).
- Demonstrated good agreement between experimental data and numerical simulations.
Conclusions:
- The developed ITP microchip method provides a fast and efficient way to separate lanthanides.
- Microfluidic ITP is a viable technique for complex mixture analysis.
- Numerical simulations can effectively complement experimental validation in microfluidic studies.
