Lab-on-a-Chip, a new way of understanding the spread of environmental pollutants

Chemical sensors and lab-on-a-chip

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, most of us had never seen a lab-on-a-chip, now many of us have! How? The at home covid-19 test is a lab-on-a-chip! A small device that allows precise handling and analysis of liquids at microscopic scales. 
The chip may allow you to do analyses at home or in the field, that would normally require a lab to do them. These sensors can be used for clinical diagnostics as well as frequent environmental monitoring – instead of sampling and analyzing monthly one can sample daily at a low cost and effort – thus getting much more and better data for scientists to use to monitor changes in the environment.

Citizen science

Citizen science – science performed by the volunteers from the public in cooperation with scientists in order to answer real-world questions. In the case of environmental monitoring is normally done by a scientist at low frequency. Engaging non-scientists living close to the area and training them to use these new sensors, will increase the testing frequency giving more data-points to the scientists.  They will then be able to pull the information together, exploring patterns and setting up models in order to better understand trends and development.  

Sustainable Materials for Sustainable Environmental Sensing – the WISE project

Many on-site sensors however rely on materials and components that are not sustainable or may be toxic by end-of-product-life. This project is intended to develop a new generation of sensors using sustainable and bio-based materials forwater sensing. 

The aim of the project is to develop a sensor where you can detect particular nutrients, metal pollutants and small organic molecule in an easy and accessible way for the public to use.

These small labs-on-a-chip are manufactured at the fabrication facility in the Arrhenius lab.

WISE - The aim of the "Wallenberg Initiative Material Science for Sustainability" is to create the conditions for a sustainable society by researching next generation of ecofriendly materials and manufacturing processes. This will also facilitate better technology for energy systems of the future, and to combat pollution and toxic emissions.

About Nicole Pamme

Nicole Pamme has been a full professor in analytical chemistry at SU since 2021. Originally from Germany, she joined MMK after many years in the UK. She is included in the Analytical Scientist 2021 Power List of the world's most influential analytical scientists and is also a teacher in Analytical Chemistry – where she challenges her students on a daily basis.