Facilitating chemical and biochemical experiments with electronic microcontrollers and single-board computers

Area of Science:

• Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Engineering
• Laboratory Automation

Background:

• Traditionally, constructing analytical instruments required specialized technical skills or workshop support.
• The Fourth Industrial Revolution enables customized system construction using accessible, low-cost electronic modules.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide chemists and biochemists with a practical guide for utilizing microcontroller boards (MCBs) and single-board computers (SBCs).
• To demonstrate how these technologies can enhance experimental design and address scientific questions in laboratory settings.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of microcontroller boards (MCBs) and single-board computers (SBCs) for laboratory automation.
• Development of seven example procedures for common laboratory routines, including liquid handling, extraction, real-time monitoring, and feedback control.
• Utilizing cloud connectivity for real-time data monitoring and deposition.

Main Results:

• Successful application of MCBs and SBCs to expedite seven distinct laboratory procedures.
• Demonstration of automated microliter liquid injection, mass spectrometry sample transfer, and volatile organic compound extraction.
• Enabled real-time cloud monitoring, data deposition, feedback control of reactions, and flow rate optimization.

Conclusions:

• Chemists and biochemists can readily adopt MCBs and SBCs to improve experimental efficiency and capabilities.
• The protocol serves as a primer, enabling readers with no prior electronics or programming experience to build simple automated systems.
• This approach facilitates the integration of modern computing technologies into daily chemical and biochemical experimentation.