Separation of mixtures at nano length scales: blow torch and levitation effect.
A new conceptual basis for the separation of multicomponent molecular mixtures is proposed. A separation method where different components of the mixtures are driven in opposite directions is realized by a judicious combination of two effects, viz., levitation and blow torch effects. Monte Carlo simulations of two Lennard-Jones binary mixtures with different-sized components are shown to be separated well if at least one of the components lies in the anomalous regime and the others lie in the linear regime. A separation factor of 10(8) is obtained on nano length scales as compared to 10(3), obtainable through conventional methods of separation on macrolength scales.
Anil Kumar
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Solid State and Structural Chemistry Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India 560 012.
Yashonath
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Ananthakrishna
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