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Continuous and precise particle separation by electroosmotic flow control in microfluidic devices
Author(s) -
Kawamata Takahiro,
Yamada Masumi,
Yasuda Masahiro,
Seki Minoru
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
electrophoresis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.666
H-Index - 158
eISSN - 1522-2683
pISSN - 0173-0835
DOI - 10.1002/elps.200700658
Subject(s) - microchannel , microfluidics , particle (ecology) , mechanics , volumetric flow rate , flow (mathematics) , inlet , materials science , flow control (data) , flow separation , particle size , pressure gradient , analytical chemistry (journal) , chemistry , nanotechnology , chromatography , physics , mechanical engineering , engineering , telecommunications , oceanography , boundary layer , geology
A new scheme has been described for continuous particle separation using EOF in microfluidic devices. We have previously reported a method for particle separation, called “pinched flow fractionation (PFF)”, in which size‐dependent and continuous particle separation can be achieved by introducing pressure‐driven flows with and without particles into a pinched microchannel. In this study, EOF was employed to transport fluid flows inside a microchannel. By controlling the applied voltage to electrodes inserted in each inlet/outlet port, the flow rates from both inlets, and flow rates distributed to each outlet could be accurately tuned, thus enabling more effective separation compared to the pressure‐driven scheme. In the experiment, the particle behaviors were compared between EOF and pressure‐driven flow schemes. In addition, micrometer‐ and submicrometer‐sized particles were accurately separated and individually collected using a microchannel with multiple outlet branch channels, demonstrating the high efficiency of the presented scheme.