title: Electroosmotic mixing in microchannels.
abstract: Mixing is an essential, yet challenging, process step for many Lab on a Chip (LOC) applications. This paper presents a method of mixing for microfluidic devices that relies upon electroosmotic flow. In physical tests and in computer simulations, we periodically vary the electric field with time to mix two aqueous solutions. Good mixing is shown to occur when the electroosmotic flow at the two inlets pulse out of phase, the Strouhal number is on the order of 1, and the pulse volumes are on the order of the intersection volume.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Glasgow
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Batton
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aubry
mesh_terms: D045424:Complex Mixtures / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D017022:Flow Injection Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008962:Models, Theoretical
chemical_list: D045424:Complex Mixtures