title: Continuous and precise particle separation by electroosmotic flow control in microfluidic devices.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawamata
authors.forename: Masumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seki
mesh_terms: D044085:Microfluidics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D015203:Reproducibility of Results