New Chip Finds Pollution Fast Without Cleaning Samples

Scientists have created a new small chip that can find harmful pollution in water or soil very fast. It does not need to clean the sample first, which makes testing quicker and easier.
By Newsroom | Science, South Korea |

A new microfluidic device offers a streamlined approach to identifying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other pollutants. This technology bypasses the complex and time-consuming pretreatment steps usually needed for environmental samples, potentially making rapid analysis more accessible.

Background and Innovation

  • Traditional methods for detecting environmental pollutants require extensive sample preparation, which can be costly, slow, and may even lead to the loss of tiny amounts of the target substances. This often involves steps like filtration to remove solids, followed by extraction and then analysis.

  • The Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), in collaboration with Professor Jae Bem You from Chungnam National University, has developed a microfluidic chip designed for one-step detection. This system allows for direct extraction and immediate analysis of pollutants, even from samples containing solid materials such as sand or soil.

  • Key to this innovation is the device's ability to handle solid particles without interference. As a liquid sample flows through the chip, target pollutants move into a special droplet containing an extractant. Solid particles, like sand, pass through without disrupting this process. Once the extraction is complete, the droplet is collected for final analysis.

Addressing Pretreatment Challenges

Environmental analysis often faces hurdles when samples contain solids. These solids can:

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A microfluidic chip for one-step detection of PFAS and other pollutants - 1

  • Obscure or hinder the detection of target pollutants.

  • Unintentionally remove trace amounts of pollutants during filtration.

  • Increase the complexity and cost of the analytical workflow.

The new microfluidic chip appears to overcome these issues by:

  • Allowing direct extraction from samples containing sand, soil, or food residues.

  • Eliminating the need for filtration or other preliminary separation steps.

  • Facilitating rapid mass transfer of pollutants into the extractant droplet.

Demonstrated Capabilities

  • The device has shown the ability to detect Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a common PFAS, within five minutes.

  • It has also successfully identified carbamazepine (CBZ), a pharmaceutical compound, directly from sand-containing slurry samples without prior filtration.

  • High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to confirm the identification of CBZ.

Broader Implications for Pollutant Detection

The development of this microfluidic chip contributes to ongoing efforts to improve the speed and reliability of environmental monitoring.

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  • The race for low-cost PFAS sensors is ongoing, driven by concerns over contaminated drinking water. A significant challenge remains in differentiating between various types of PFAS and detecting them at very low levels (part-per-trillion).

  • Existing methods, such as lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA), are currently not applicable for PFAS detection due to the lack of suitable antibodies.

  • Other research explores advanced sensor technologies, including molecularly imprinted polymers and electrochemical sensors integrated with microfluidic principles, to achieve greater sensitivity and speed.

Expert Perspective and Future Outlook

While the exact impact and commercialization timeline are not detailed, the innovation addresses a clear need in environmental science.

  • Dr. Ju Hyeon Kim of KRICT and Professor Jae Bem You from Chungnam National University led the development.

  • The technology aims to simplify analytical processes, reducing both the time and cost associated with pollutant detection.

  • Further research may focus on expanding the range of detectable pollutants and validating the chip's performance across diverse environmental matrices.

Sources Used

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is this new chip?
It is a very small device, like a tiny lab on a chip, that helps find pollution.
Q: Why is it special?
It can find pollution without needing to clean the sample first, which saves a lot of time.
Q: What kind of pollution can it find?
It can find chemicals like PFAS and medicines in water or soil.
Q: Who made it?
Scientists from the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology and Chungnam National University made it.