Fatty acids have long been
molecules of environmental, biomedical, agricultural,
and industrial importance. The analysis or identification
of bacteria based on the ability to differentiate one
type of microorganism from another by using fatty acid
content and distribution is well known.
Fatty acid analysis using
Gas Chromatography (GC) has been a challenge because
of their high molecular weight and low volatility. The
conversion of the fatty acid to the fatty acid methyl
ester (FAME) is performed to increase volatility: A
method of extracting, methylating, and analyzing fatty
acid content has been available for some years using
a bench top commercial GC. The advantages of a miniaturized
GC system with microfabricated device elements over
a traditional GC are low power requirements, low cost,
hand-held, and lightweight.
For more information, select
from the following categories below or download the
brochure
(pdf):
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Sandia's Goal and Results:
Utilize unique microfabrication facitlities
/ skills to reduce size, weight, power of existing concepts for improvements
in field portability and performance.
A prototype system incorporating the µ-pyrolyzer, µ-GC column, and miniature
IMS
has been assembled (see picture below).
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