Conservação e uso sustentável dos oceanos, dos mares e dos recursos marinhos para o desenvolvimento sustentável

The work developed in this project was designed based upon flow techniques and evolved into microfluidics together with a wider range of samples. In fact, the overall aim was to development of novel analytical tools by downscaling from flow analysis methods to microfluidics devices for metal ions determination /speciation in complex samples: dynamic water systems and biological fluids of non-invasive collection. The driving question of this research project was how to explore the recent developments in microfluidic analysis and sorbents functionalization to develop rapid, disposable, in moment analytical tools. New analytical devices were designed to be low cost and easy-to-use, providing an on-hand diagnosis tool. The expected analytical challenges associated with the complexity of the target samples, namely low analyte concentration, high ionic content, and wide range of potential interferences, were similar to both water dynamic systems and biological fluids of non-invasive collection and effectively address in all developed methodologies.