Proof-of-concept study demonstrates microfluidic preconcentration of lead ions for one-drop voltammetry, suggesting a viable route for low-cost on-site heavy metal testing.
Key Points
To develop a low-cost, small-volume microfluidic pretreatment platform coupled with one-drop anodic stripping voltammetry for sensitive on-site detection of heavy metal contamination in environmental water.
Engineered an open/close configurable microfluidic device utilizing solid-phase extraction with chelating particles.
Concentrated a 1.0 mL sample volume down to a single 20 μL droplet to isolate analytes and eliminate matrix impurities.
Validated the proof-of-concept platform using Pb2+ ions as the target analyte with screen-printed electrochemical electrodes.
Achieved up to a ~50-fold preconcentration factor by reducing 1.0 mL sample volumes to 20 μL.
Lowered operational costs by reducing the volume of expensive chelating particles required for sample preparation.
Successfully purified Pb2+ from impure solutions, establishing a clean proof-of-concept sample matrix suitable for anodic stripping voltammetry.