A Mobile Analytical Chemistry Workstation with a C4D Sensor for Rapid Detection of Organophosphates Under Field...

Timely detection of organophosphates in outdoor environments remains a critical challenge for forensic and environmental monitoring. Traditional methods often require transporting samples to centralised laboratories, delaying essential response actions. In this study, we present a novel mobile analytical chemistry workstation that integrates capillary electrophoresis (CE) with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C4D) on low-cost polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic chips, enabling rapid and accurate on-site analysis of organophosphates. The system features a streamlined workflow that includes in-field sample collection, microfluidic analysis, and the wireless transmission of data to a central command centre for immediate decision-making. The detection system demonstrates a linear range of 2.5 mM to 20 mM for dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), with an estimated limit of detection (LOD) of 2.5 mM. We evaluate the feasibility of combining CE and C4D under field conditions, highlighting both the strengths and limitations of this integrated platform.