Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
Lab Chip. 2012 Nov 7;12(21):4350-4. doi: 10.1039/c2lc40573c.
We describe the first realization of liquid chromatographic separation in a droplet-based microfluidic system and develop a novel mode for microchip-based chromatography named as droplet-array liquid-liquid chromatography. In this system, two arrays of picoliter-scale droplets immobilized on both sidewalls of a microchannel with droplet trapping technique served as the stationary phase in chromatographic separation, while the other immiscible phase flowing in the microchannel served as the mobile phase. The chromatographic separation was achieved on the basis of multiple extraction and elution of analytes between the droplet array stationary phase and the mobile phase. The proof-of-concept study of the droplet-array LC system was performed in the separation of fluoranthene and benzo[b]fluoranthene. Under the optimum conditions, the two analytes were separated within 26 min with separation efficiencies of 112 μm and 119 μm plate height, respectively. The advantages of the present system include simple structure, low driving pressure, and relatively high sample capacity. It can also provide a useful platform for LC theory study and educational purposes by allowing the researchers and students to directly "see" the continuous extraction and elution process of a chromatographic separation.
我们首次在基于液滴的微流控系统中实现了液相色谱分离，并开发了一种基于芯片的新型色谱模式，即液滴阵列液相-液相色谱。在该系统中，通过液滴俘获技术将两排皮升级别的液滴固定在微通道的两侧壁上，作为色谱分离中的固定相，而另一不相容相在微通道中流动作为流动相。基于分析物在液滴阵列固定相和流动相之间的多次萃取和洗脱实现了色谱分离。采用液滴阵列 LC 系统对荧蒽和苯并[b]荧蒽进行了概念验证研究。在最佳条件下，两种分析物在 26 分钟内得到分离，其分离效率分别为 112μm 和 119μm 理论塔板高度。本系统的优点包括结构简单、驱动压力低和相对较高的样品容量。通过允许研究人员和学生直接“看到”色谱分离的连续萃取和洗脱过程，它还为 LC 理论研究和教育目的提供了一个有用的平台。
