Digital microfluidics platforms (DMFPs) have shown their efficiency in sample handling, using elementary operations that may be combined to perform complex applications. In this article, we present a new platform for gaseous samples handling involving a two-step digital preconcentration using the miniaturized preconcentrators of the DMFP. Choosing n-pentane at very low concentrations as a model for highly volatile compounds, poorly retained on the sorbent, the DMFP allowed bypassing the limit set by the breakthrough volume by repeating an elementary operation. It enabled a 5-fold increase of preconcentration factors in comparison to a single preconcentration step and an easier monitoring of the model compound. Promising applications are expected, as this system could be adapted to most volatile compound analysis devices, including micro gas chromatographs, to replace the current single-step preconcentration systems. By switching to two-step preconcentration with a DMFP, i.e., a digital preconcentration, it would be possible to get more concentrated samples through the column for easier trace analysis.

/pdf/gas-digital-microfluidic-platform-application-to-highly-ks4b6k11.pdf

Gas Digital Microfluidic Platform: Application to Highly Volatile Compound Preconcentration.

A Microfluidic Evaporator with a Photothermal Porous Layer for Continuous Sample Concentration

On microfluidic platform, sample concentration plays a crucial role in on-chip detection, analysis and synthesis, etc. Evaporation-induced solvent removal is frequently applied to various application scenarios due to its simplicity and compatibility. However, the enclosed microfluidic channels often hinder the solvent vapor discharge during the evaporation process due to the formation of two-phase flow and interfacial instability. Herein, we propose a novel microfluidic evaporator incorporated with a photothermal porous layer for continuous sample concentration. By absorbing the sample fluid into the porous structure, the evaporator is capable of achieving volumetric heating of the sample fluid thus enhancing the solvent evaporation while the porous network ensured efficient vapor venting. Moreover, the thermal resistance of porous layer shields the heat transfer towards the bulk fluid therefore prevented the sample solution from overheating during the operation process. The results demonstrate the designed microfluidic evaporator exhibits good sample concentration capability under continuous flow conditions. 

A microfluidic evaporator with a photothermal porous layer for continuous sample concentration

Design of Droplet Manipulation Platform based on Digital Microfluidic Chip

Sample preparation turns out to be one of the important procedures in complex sample analysis by affecting the accuracy, selectivity, and sensitivity of analytical results. However, the majority of the conventional sample preparation techniques still suffer from time-consuming and labor-intensive operations. These shortcomings can be addressed by reforming the sample preparation process in a microfluidic manner. Inheriting the advantages of rapid, high efficiency, low consumption, and easy integration, microfluidic sample preparation techniques receive increasing attention, including microfluidic phases separation, microfluidic field-assisted extraction, microfluidic membrane separation, and microfluidic chemical conversion. This review overviews the progress of microfluidic sample preparation techniques in the last 3 years based on more than 100 references, we highlight the implementation of typical sample preparation methods in the formats of microfluidics. Furthermore, the challenges and outlooks of the application of microfluidic sample preparation techniques are discussed.

Recent progress of microfluidic sample preparation techniques.

Digital microfluidics is known for fine manipulation of sub-millimeter samples, with applications from biological sample preparation to diagnostic testing. Unfortunately, until now, it has been only limited to liquid phases. In this paper, we present a new system based on a digital microfluidic platform (DMFP), which is able to digitally manipulate gaseous samples, such as alkanes from n-hexane to n-nonane. The DMFP relies mostly on interconnected micropreconcentrators (μPCs) to trap and release the samples depending on their controlled temperature. We show that the DMFP is capable of performing all basic operations of digital microfluidics: trapping/releasing and moving samples, adding samples and separating samples. As a first example of a more complex programmable use of our DMFP, we measured the breakthrough volume of alkanes on a Tenax TA adsorbent. The results were consistent with tabulated values obtained with standard laboratory instruments. This DMFP promises great possibilities for more complex programmable gas microfluidics digital devices and the development of new digital gas sample preparation and analysis methods.

/pdf/a-microfluidic-device-for-digital-manipulation-of-gaseous-1b8orv3hek.pdf

A microfluidic device for digital manipulation of gaseous samples

A first digital microfluidic system has been fabricated that allows to perform programmable and reconfigurable step by step manipulations of gas and volatile compounds. While digital microfluidic platforms have been extensively reported for the manipulation of droplets, such an approach for gaseous samples have not been proposed so far. The programmable system relies on interconnected temperature controlled silicon chips filled with adsorbent that can trap and release analytes. As a proof of concept, all the key elementary operations are demonstrated with alkanes ranging from n-hexane to n-nonane: the trapping, release, moving, adding (mixing) and subtracting (separating) of gaseous analytes. Following the example of digital microfluidic droplet manipulation, such system could open in the future a new field of technologies and applications regarding gas or volatile compounds samples preparation and analysis.

A digital microfluidic platform for gaseous samples : First system and demonstration of elementary operations

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Gas Digital Microfluidic Platform: Application to Highly Volatile Compound Preconcentration.

A microfluidic device for digital manipulation of gaseous samples

A digital microfluidic platform for gaseous samples : First system and demonstration of elementary operations