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Simple, Expendable, 3D-Printed Microfluidic Systems for Sample Preparation of Petroleum.
Érica M Kataoka1, Rui C Murer1, Jandyson M Santos2
1Laboratório Nacional de Nanotecnologia, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais , Campinas, São Paulo 13083-100, Brazil.
Analytical Chemistry
|February 24, 2017
Summary
Disposable 3D-printed microfluidic devices offer a fast and reliable method for petroleum sample preparation. These robust, low-cost systems effectively perform solid-phase extraction, reducing processing time and maintaining sample integrity for detailed molecular analysis.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Petroleum Geochemistry
Background:
- Traditional petroleum sample preparation is time-consuming and can compromise sample integrity.
- Microfluidic systems offer potential for faster and more efficient sample processing.
- Limitations exist for non-silicon and non-glass microchips regarding solvent resistance and sample recovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a simple protocol for manufacturing disposable, 3D-printed microfluidic systems for petroleum sample preparation.
- To assess the performance of these 3D-printed microfluidic devices in challenging oil and gas matrices.
- To evaluate the solvent resistance and sample integrity preservation capabilities of the 3D-printed microfluidic solid-phase extraction (μSPE) devices.
Main Methods:
- Utilized consumer-grade 3D-printers with fused deposition modeling to fabricate microfluidic systems.
- Integrated solid-phase extraction (SPE) functionalities into the 3D-printed microfluidic devices.
- Applied comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for molecular analysis of biomarkers.
- Employed Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) for the characterization of polar analytes.
Main Results:
- 3D-printed μSPE devices demonstrated full functionality after prolonged exposure to nonpolar solvents.
- Achieved high recovery rates (98%) for maltenes during emulsion breaking and deasphalting, preserving maltene integrity.
- Reduced sample processing time by 10-fold compared to conventional methods.
- Accurate characterization of most polar compounds was achieved, with lower recovery (82%) for asphaltenes due to adsorption.
Conclusions:
- 3D-printed microfluidic systems provide a robust, cost-effective, and rapid solution for petroleum sample preparation.
- These devices overcome limitations of traditional microchips regarding solvent resistance and sample integrity.
- 3D-printing presents a compelling alternative for microfabrication in the oil and gas industry, enabling faster and more reliable analysis.
