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Microfabricated High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) System with Closed-Loop Flow Control

Citation

Shih, Jason J. (2008) Microfabricated High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) System with Closed-Loop Flow Control. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/8A6W-2X34. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-05192008-132422

Abstract

This thesis presents the development of a microfabricated high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system. The design, fabrication, and characterization of individual HPLC components such as high-pressure pumps, mixers, flow sensors, composition sensors, separation columns, filters, and detectors is presented. These individual components were then integrated to create robust, feedback-driven separation systems capable of performing gradient, reverse-phase, nanoscale HPLC. Two separate separation systems were created. The first integrated system was a microfluidic device for HPLC tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) designed for proteomic applications. The second system was a portable HPLC conductivity detection (HPLC-CD) system designed for point-of-care applications such as biodetection. Both systems demonstrated good performance and repeatability. The performance of these systems is largely attributable to the development of HPLC-compatible sensors that could provide precise control over the elution profiles. These microfluidic closed-loop flow control systems represent an important advancement in the microfluidics field, where open-loop flow control is universally used, and risks becoming inadequate with the increasing complexity of microfluidic systems.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:electrolysis; MEMS
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Engineering and Applied Science
Major Option:Electrical Engineering
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Tai, Yu-Chong
Thesis Committee:
  • Tai, Yu-Chong (chair)
  • Emami, Azita
  • Yang, Changhuei
  • Vaidyanathan, P. P.
  • Lee, Terry D.
Defense Date:5 May 2008
Record Number:CaltechETD:etd-05192008-132422
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-05192008-132422
DOI:10.7907/8A6W-2X34
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:1879
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Imported from ETD-db
Deposited On:22 May 2008
Last Modified:31 Jan 2020 22:56

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