A research team in South Korea has unveiled a microfluidic device that could reshape how scientists detect hazardous pollutants in water and food samples.
By eliminating the need for filtration and other labour-intensive preparation steps, the technology allows contaminants to be extracted directly from samples containing solid particles, such as sand or food residue.
The project was led by Dr Ju Hyeon Kim at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), working closely with Professor Jae Bem You’s team at Chungnam National University.
Their newly developed microfluidic device integrates extraction and preparation into a single streamlined process, offering a faster and more reliable approach to environmental analysis.
The problem with traditional testing methods
Detecting trace contaminants in environmental and food samples is rarely straightforward. Water collected from real-world settings often contains suspended solids, such as soil or organic debris.
Before laboratory analysis can begin, technicians typically filter out these particles and then carry out extraction procedures to isolate target compounds.
This multi-step workflow presents two major challenges. First, filtration can unintentionally remove trace pollutants along with solid debris, compromising accuracy.
Second, established extraction techniques such as liquid–liquid extraction require significant solvent volumes and are difficult to automate. While miniaturised alternatives have emerged, they still struggle with solids, making pretreatment unavoidable.
For sectors tied closely to public health, including drinking water safety, pharmaceutical residue monitoring, and environmental surveillance, these inefficiencies add time, cost, and uncertainty.
How the microfluidic device works
The new microfluidic device addresses these issues through an elegant design. At its core is a tiny microchamber that traps a small droplet of extraction solvent. Adjacent to this chamber runs a narrow microchannel through which the sample solution flows continuously.
As the sample passes by, target pollutants migrate selectively into the solvent droplet. Crucially, solid particles remain in the flowing stream and do not interfere with the extraction process.
Once extraction is complete, the droplet can be collected and analysed using standard laboratory techniques.
By combining extraction and separation within a single compact platform, the microfluidic device removes the need for filtration or multiple preparation steps. The result is a faster workflow that preserves analytical precision even in challenging samples.
Successful detection of regulated contaminants
To demonstrate the system’s effectiveness, the researchers tested it on two widely monitored contaminants: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a member of the PFAS family of persistent industrial chemicals, and carbamazepine (CBZ), a commonly prescribed anticonvulsant frequently detected in wastewater.
Using the microfluidic device, the team detected PFOA within five minutes. In a separate experiment, CBZ was extracted directly from a sand-containing slurry without any filtration.
Subsequent analysis using high-performance liquid chromatography confirmed clear and reliable identification.
These results highlight the device’s ability to handle complex, real-world samples without sacrificing speed or sensitivity.
Implications for public health and on-site monitoring
The implications extend beyond laboratory convenience. Compact and automation-friendly systems like this microfluidic device could support on-site environmental testing, reducing the need to transport samples back to centralised facilities.
That capability is particularly relevant for rapid response situations or routine monitoring in remote areas.
By integrating multiple preparation steps into a single platform, the technology also opens the door to portable analytical systems for food safety inspections and pharmaceutical residue screening.
As regulatory scrutiny of emerging contaminants continues to grow, tools that simplify and strengthen detection methods will become increasingly important.
This microfluidic device represents a significant step toward more efficient, reliable analysis of pollutants in everyday environmental and food samples.
