A microfabricated electroosmotic pump coupled to a gas-diffusion microchip for flow injection analysis of ammonia

We have microfabricated two functional components toward developing a microchip flow injection analysis (FIA) system, i.e., an open-channel electroosmotic pump and a gas-diffusion chip, consisting of two microfabricated glass wafers and a porous polytetrafluoroethylene membrane. This is the first application of gas-diffusion separation in a microchip FIA system. To demonstrate the feasibility of using these two components for performing gas-diffusion FIA, we have incorporated them together with a regular FIA injection valve and a capillary electrophoresis absorbance detector in a flow injection system for determination of ammonia in environmental water samples. This system has a limit of detection of 0.10 mg L⁻¹ NH₃, with a good repeatability (relative standard deviation of less than 5 % for 4.0 mg L⁻¹ NH₃). Parameters affecting its performance are also discussed. (author)