Thread-based microfluidic three channel device in combination with thermal lens detection for the determination of copper and zinc

Abstract

In this study, a new method involving a thread-based microfluidic three channel device in combination with thermal lens detection is developed for the sequential determination of Cu(II) and Zn(II). The thread-based microfluidic three channel device was composed of a U-shaped supporter and thread-based microfluidic three channels fixed on a supporter. The different types of threads (cotton and cotton-polyester threads) in the thread-based microfluidic three channel device were used as the efficient transporting channels of the sample, reagent and buffer solutions, driven by capillary and gravity actions. The fabrication and determination conditions were investigated. By utilizing the differences in the transporting rates of the thread-based microfluidic three channels and combining these with thermal lens detection, Cu(II) and Zn(II) were sequentially determined at different pH in a complex system. The results show that TLS is an excellent detection method for thread-based microfluidic analytical devices and can be widely applied for the determination of other analytes.