An integrated UV-vis microfluidic device for the study of concentrated solvent extraction reactions

Abstract

A custom built microfluidic device that potentially enables real time monitoring of solute transfer across a water/oil interface is presented and discussed. The device consisted of a Pyrex® glass, Y-Y shaped microchannel fabricated with an inbuilt UV-Vis detection system. The device was connected to a spectrograph by means of optical fibres for detection of the signal. The device was tested against both a blue coloured dye (waxoline blue) and the metallorganic complex of Co(II) and di (2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (DEHPA). Due to the very short optical path length (~ 10-4 cm), in situ measurements of highly concentrated analytes are shown to be possible. The use of the device for measuremen..