Basic Information

Abstract Number: 250-55     Author Name: Andrew Tipler Affiliation: PerkinElmer LAS Session Title: New Developments in Analytical Instrumentation and Software Event Type: Sunday Poster Event Title: New Application Opportunities in Gas Chromatography using Interchangeable Microchannel Wafer Technology Presider(s):   Start Time: ( Slot # 55 ) Date: Sunday, March 8th, 2009 Location: S100bc (Grand Ballroom) Keywords: Capillary GC, Gas Chromatography, Instrumentation, Lab-on-a-Chip/Microfluidics

Abstract Content

In this paper we describe the development of a novel wafer technology into which microchannels of precise geometry are fabricated for use in GC flow switching applications. The intent of these new wafers is to improve the performance and ease of use of classical GC techniques such as heartcutting, backflushing and detector switching as well as new techniques such as programmable peak splitting. The microchannels in these new wafers can be as small as 80µm x 50µm to enable the fabrication of on-wafer restrictors. Multiple wafers can also be laminated to enable complex flow switching configurations to be produced. These circular wafers are only 22mm in diameter and 2mm in thickness and are retained in a simple threaded manifold for easy access and replacement. A classic Deans heartcut switch was implemented in such a wafer with an integral by-pass restrictor for multidimensional separations. A second wafer design provides the means to selectively apply different split ratios to different peaks eluting from a given column. A third wafer design simplifies the splitting of effluent from a single column between multiple detectors. A fourth wafer enables two columns to be attached to the same detector (such as MS) and allow the user to select which is active at any given time. The performance of these new wafers greatly exceeds traditional technologies in terms of switching speed and band broadening. For each wafer design, data will be presented demonstrating its performance and examples of its application will be given.