title: First-generation hybrid MEMS gas chromatograph.
abstract: The fabrication, assembly, and initial testing of a hybrid microfabricated gas chromatograph (microGC) is described. The microGC incorporates capabilities for on-board calibration, sample preconcentration and focused thermal desorption, temperature-programmed separations, and "spectral" detection with an integrated array of microsensors, and is designed for rapid determinations of complex mixtures of environmental contaminants at trace concentrations. Ambient air is used as the carrier gas to avoid the need for on-board gas supplies. The microsystem is plumbed through an etched-Si/glass microfluidic interconnection substrate with fused silica capillaries and employs a miniature commercial pump and valve subsystem for directing sample flow. The latest performance data on each system component are presented followed by first analytical results from the working microsystem. Tradeoffs in system performance as a function of volumetric flow rate are explored. The determination of an 11-vapor mixture of typical indoor air contaminants in less than 90 s is demonstrated with projected detection limits in the low part-per-billion concentration range for a preconcentrated air-sample volume of 0.25 L.
authors.affiliation: The Engineering Research Center for Wireless Integrated Microsystems (WIMS), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Chia-Jung
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Steinecker
authors.forename: Wei-Cheng
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Oborny
authors.forename: Jamie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agah
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Potkay
authors.forename: Helena K L
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Driscoll
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Sacks
authors.forename: Kensall D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Wise
authors.forename: Stella W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: Edward T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Zellers
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D002138:Calibration; D002845:Chromatography; D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary / Q000379:methods; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005898:Glass; D006358:Hot Temperature; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D012825:Silicon