Microfluidic aqueous two-phase extraction of bisphenol A using ionic liquid for high-performance liquid chromatography analysis.

An aqueous two-phase microfluidics (ATPM) method suitable for selective extraction of bisphenol A (BPA) in aqueous samples was developed, and a functional ionic liquid of N, N, N-trioctyl ammonium propionate (TOAP) was specially employed for the formation of a parallel flow system. Based on the analytical model, we optimized the chip design into branch-connection length pattern to achieve maximum extraction efficiency (φ max) and ensure phase separation. In combining the design flexibility and ideal reaction activity of extractant (TOAP), the developed ATPM enabled a selective and effective extraction of BPA (φ max of 95% within 2 s) from phenol derivatives. Meanwhile, the total operation time and ionic liquid consumption of the microfluidic extraction were only 2.5 min and 5 μl, respectively. The ATPM can be run at normal pH and room temperature and showed no interferences from components found in tap or beach water. To be noted, this specific extraction system was applied in real water samples; the recoveries of standard addition for all water samples spiked with BPA were from 96 to 110%. Finally, successful reuse of the chip was also realized. In all cases, the developed microfluidic chip was proven to be useful as an effective and low consumption approach in extracting BPA and should be expanded as a "green" preparative method for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis.