Wireless Microfluidic Sensor for Metal Ion Detection in Water

In the present work, a wireless microfluidic sensor based on low-temperature cofired ceramic (LTCC) technology for real-time detection of metal ions in water is proposed. The wireless sensor is composed of a planar spiral inductor and parallel plate capacitor (LC) resonant antenna, which integrates with the microchannel in the LTCC substrate between the capacitor plates. Aqueous solutions of Pb(NO3)(2), Cd(NO3)(2), Mg(NO3)(2), Ca(NO3)(2), NaNO3, and KNO3 with concentrations of 0-100 mM were tested with the sensors. The metal ion and its concentration in water can be tested by the amplitude of the reflection coefficient (S-11) and the resonance frequency (f(r)) of the wireless microfluidic sensor. The metal ion species can be distinguished from the wireless response behavior of the sensor. The detection limit of the sensor for the selected metal ionic solutions could reach as low as 5 mu M. The normalized sensitivity of the sensor is 0.47%, which is higher than that of the reported liquid microfluidic sensors based on microwave resonators. The wireless microfluidic sensor of this study is promising for rapid and convenient detection of heavy metal ion pollutants in the industrial wastewater.

Automated summary

The wireless microfluidic sensor based on LTCC technology allows real-time detection of metal ions in water, distinguishing between different ion species through reflection coefficient and resonance frequency. The detection limit can be as low as 5um, with a normalized sensitivity higher than reported sensors.