Micro Analytical Chemistry

Gas Chromatography is a unique and versatile technique for separation and identification of volatile and semivolatile organic mixtures. GC has a wide range of applications in the pharmaceutical industry, environmental monitoring, petroleum distillation, clinical chemistry, and food processing. MEMS technology has already demonstrated the possibility of realizing micro gas chromatography systems which exhibit faster analysis times, lower power consumption, and higher portability compared to bulky conventional GCs. We are working on miniaturizing all major components of this system as well integrating them. Our goal is to achieve a GC-on-a-chip that can concentrate, separate, and identify compounds right on the field. Our current applications for this thrust are centered around environmental monitoring and breath analysis.