A micro-extractor for concentration and determination of lead in water

Tran Van Man, Jean Berthier, Patrick Ozil and Nicolas Sarrut

Abstract

In this work, we present the design, fabrication and characterization of a novel micro-extractor that performs on-line extraction–concentration–detection (ECD) of target molecules flowing in a carrier liquid. The system comprises a primary microchannel containing a flowing aqueous carrier liquid and a secondary organic storage fluid circulating in an adjacent channel. The interfaces between the two immiscible fluids are stabilized by vertical micro-pillars. The system encompasses three functions: (i) extraction of the target molecules from the carrier fluid through the pillar-stabilized interfaces, (ii) concentration of the targets in the secondary organic solvent due to its very low—or zero—velocity and (iii) on-line detection via optical spectrometry. We successively present the analysis of the physics of the system, which has led us to a specific design, then the microfabrication of the chip, and finally we demonstrate the extraction, concentration and detection of lead ions (Pb²⁺) from a water flow