A simple, inexpensive and sensitive three-phase hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction (HFLPME) coupled with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection was successfully developed for determination of trace level of an anti-Histamine drug, fexofenadine, in human plasma and urine. The analyte was extracted into n-octanol that was immobilized in the wall of a porous hollow ...

In this work, two approaches based on Dispersive Liquid-Liquid MicroExtraction (DLLME) and Dispersive Liquid-Liquid MicroExtraction based on Solidification of Floating Organic Drop (DLLME-SFO) were compared for the extraction and preconcentration of crocin from saffron and biological samples. Different DLLME and DLLME-SFO parameters influencing the extraction efficiency were studied and opt...

The latest developments in energy-dispersive X-ray detection technology combined with the use of sophisticated X-ray detector optics open new avenues for the determination of 2D/ 3D distribution of (trace) elements within the investigated samples on the microscopic scale. This work illustrates the development and applications of synchrotron radiation based micro-XRF/XAS imaging towards a fully ...

This communication reports on the design, fabrication and testing of special high temperature Si/SiN based micro-hotplates as micromachined platforms for micro-SOFCs. Different designs and materials have been evaluated to realise micro-heating platforms compatible with spray pyrolysed anode, cathode and electrolytes materials. The potential of these micromachined platforms for further integrati...

We report the confinement of an optomechanical micro-oscillator in a squeezed thermal state, obtained by parametric modulation of the optical spring. We propose and implement an experimental scheme based on parametric feedback control of the oscillator, which stabilizes the amplified quadrature while leaving the orthogonal one unaffected. This technique allows us to surpass the -3  dB limit in ...

A novel approach is presented, whereby gold nanostructured screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCnAuEs) are combined with in-situ ionic liquid formation dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (in-situ IL-DLLME) and microvolume back-extraction for the determination of mercury in water samples. In-situ IL-DLLME is based on a simple metathesis reaction between a water-miscible IL and a salt to fo...

With the purpose of improving the properties of the Sn-58Bi lead-free solder, micro-CuZnAl particles ranging from 0 to 0.4 wt % were added into the low temperature eutectic Sn-58Bi lead-free solder. After the experimental testing of micro-CuZnAl particles on the properties and microstructure of the Sn-58Bi solders, it was found that the wettability of the Sn-58Bi solders was obviously improved ...

Considerable attention has been focused on solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) due to their potential for providing clean and reliable electric power. However, the high operating temperatures of current SOFCs limit their adoption in mobile applications. To lower the SOFC operating temperature, we fabricated a corrugated thin-film electrolyte membrane by nanosphere lithography and atomic layer deposi...

In this study, an analytical methodology based on a combination of dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction with laser-induced breakdown spectrometry was evaluated for simultaneous pre-concentration, speciation and detection of Cr. The microextraction procedure was based on the injection of appropriated quantities of 1-undecanol and ethanol into a sample solution containing the complexes formed...