Patent ID: 8293095

Claim:
A method of electrically regulating the pH of a fluid in a microfluidic device, the microfluidic device comprising a first chamber comprising a first electrode, a second chamber comprising a second electrode, and a third chamber comprising a third electrode; the method comprising: injecting a solution containing an ion having a lower standard oxidation potential than water into the first chamber of the microfluidic device; injecting a solution containing an ion having a lower standard reduction potential than water into the second chamber; applying a positive voltage to the first electrode of the first chamber and a negative voltage to the second electrode of the second chamber to induce electrolysis of water in the first and second chambers; and applying a negative voltage to the first electrode of the first chamber and a positive voltage to the third electrode of the third chamber, thereby regulating the pH of a solution in the second or first chamber, wherein the microfluidic device further comprises a metal ion exchange membrane interposed between the first and second chambers, whereby a portion of the first chamber and the second chamber is composed of the metal ion exchange membrane; and a hydrogen ion exchange membrane interposed between the second chamber and the third chamber, whereby a portion of the second chamber and the third chamber is composed of the hydrogen ion exchange membrane.