Microfluidic aqueous two-phase extraction of bisphenol A using ionic liquid for high-performance liquid...

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Science
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor found in various water sources.
• Efficient and selective extraction methods are crucial for BPA detection and monitoring.
• Microfluidic devices offer advantages in sample handling and analysis speed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel aqueous two-phase microfluidics (ATPM) method for selective BPA extraction.
• To optimize chip design for maximum extraction efficiency and phase separation.
• To evaluate the method's performance in real water samples and its potential as a green analytical technique.

Main Methods:

• Development of an ATPM system using N, N, N-trioctyl ammonium propionate (TOAP) ionic liquid.
• Optimization of microfluidic chip design based on an analytical model.
• Testing the system with phenol derivatives and real water samples (tap and beach water).

Main Results:

• Achieved maximum extraction efficiency (φ max) of 95% for BPA within 2 seconds.
• Demonstrated high selectivity for BPA over phenol derivatives.
• Obtained BPA recoveries from 96% to 110% in spiked real water samples.
• Showcased low ionic liquid consumption (5 μl) and short operation time (2.5 min).

Conclusions:

• The developed ATPM method is highly effective and selective for BPA extraction.
• The microfluidic chip is reusable and operates under mild conditions (normal pH, room temperature).
• This method presents a green, low-consumption approach suitable for pre-analysis in HPLC and environmental monitoring.