A comprehensive study of a new versatile microchip device based liquid phase microextraction for stopped-flow and...

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Microfluidics
• Separation Science

Background:

• Microfluidic devices offer miniaturized platforms for sample preparation.
• Liquid phase microextraction (LPME) is a technique used to extract analytes from complex matrices.
• Simultaneous determination of parabens and NSAIDs is important for environmental and health monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a versatile microfluidic-chip device for liquid phase microextraction (LPME).
• To enhance preconcentration capabilities in microfluidic systems.
• To enable both double-flow and stopped-flow working modes for improved analytical performance.

Main Methods:

• A novel microfluidic-chip device geometry was designed and fabricated.
• The device was coupled with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for simultaneous analysis.
• Stopped-flow (SF-μLPME) and double-flow modes were investigated for extraction of parabens and NSAIDs from urine samples.

Main Results:

• Stopped-flow mode achieved higher enrichment factors (16-47) and extraction efficiencies (27-81%) with low detection limits (0.7-8.5 μg/L).
• Double-flow mode provided higher extraction efficiencies (45-95%) in shorter times (7 min) with lower enrichment factors (9-20).
• The method demonstrated excellent cleanup and high recoveries (>90%) for parabens and NSAIDs from urine, with reduced sample and reagent consumption.

Conclusions:

• The developed microfluidic-chip device is versatile and effective for simultaneous extraction of parabens and NSAIDs.
• The stopped-flow mode offers superior preconcentration, while the double-flow mode is faster.
• This miniaturized SF-μLPME device presents a cost-effective and reusable alternative for sample preparation in analytical chemistry.