Microfluidic online analysis on printed circuit boards using the example of carbonate hardness in water (permalysis)

Subproject of ISAT: New µ-fluidic design with paraffin-peristaltic pump, ultrasonic mixing chamber and detector unit

Duration: 01.07.2020 – 30.06.2021

The aim of the project is to develop a miniaturized online measurement technology for the real-time determination of chemical compounds in liquids using analytical methods. This will be the first industrial implementation of a completely new approach: “lab-on-a-PCB”, a miniaturized analytical device directly integrated into printed circuit boards. The new circuit boards to be developed will contain microfluidic liquid channels and reaction chambers, and at the same time all the necessary sensors and actuators for chemical analysis. For fluid transport, innovative peristaltic pumps are being developed whose drive is based on the phase change of kerosene. By using the pulsation of the pumps, chemical consumption is reduced, but mixing is made more difficult. For this purpose, new types of ultrasonic mixing chambers are being developed in the circuit board.