Review on Micro-Gas Analyzer Systems: Feasibility, Separations and Applications

Over 30 years, portable systems for fast and reliable gas analysis are at the core of both academic and industrial research. Miniaturized systems can be helpful in several domains. The way to make it possible is to miniaturize the whole gas chromatograph. Micro-system conception by etching silicon channel is well known. The main objective is to obtain similar or superior efficiencies to those obtained from laboratory chromatographs. However, stationary phase coatings on silicon surface and micro-detector conception with a low limit of detection remain a challenge. Developments are still in progress to offer a large range of stationary phases and detectors to meet the needs of analytical scientists. This review covers the recent development of micro-gas analyzers. It focuses on injectors, stationary phases, column designs and detectors reported in the literature during the last three decades. A list of commercially available micro-systems and their performances will also be presented.