Four-dimensional printing (4DP) technologies
can extend the functionality
and applicability of manufactured analytical devices through employing
stimuli-responsive materials. In this study, we used a photocurable
resin of stimuli-responsive shape-memory polymers and digital light
processing three-dimensional printing (3DP) to fabricate a smart sample
pretreatment device featuring a solid-phase extraction (SPE) column
and a temperature-controlled flow-actuated valve. Through manipulation
of the temperatures and flow rates of the sample, eluent, and rinsing
streams, we used this 4D-printed SPE device to extract Mn, Co, Ni,
Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb ions from high-salt content samples and remove
the sample matrix prior to their determination by inductively coupled
plasma mass spectrometry. After optimizing the valve design and operation
and the analytical scheme, this device displayed competitive analytical
performancethe method detection limits (MDLs) ranged from
0.7 to 22.1 ng L–1 for these metal ions (the MDLs
ranged from 0.5 to 18.8 ng L–1 when validating the
same printed SPE column using an online automatic system equipped
with electric switching valves). Furthermore, we performed analyses
of these metal ions in three reference materials (CASS-4, 1643f, and
2670a) and spike analyses of collected samples (seawater, ground water,
river water, and human urine) to confirm the reliability and applicability
of this analytical method. For the first time, 4DP has been used to
fabricate a multi-functional, stimuli-responsive sample pretreatment
device displaying analytical performance equal to that of a commercial
apparatus. This novel approach builds upon the functionality and diversity
of 3DP-enabling devices with the goal of developing more efficient
analytical schemes.
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