Acoustic programming in step-split-flow lateral-transport thin fractionation.
We propose a new separation scheme for micrometer-sized particles combining acoustic forces and gravitational field in split-flow lateral-transport thin (SPLITT)-like fractionation channels. Acoustic forces are generated by ultrasonic standing waves set up in the channel thickness. We report on the separation of latex particles of two different sizes in a preliminary experiment using this proposed hydrodynamic acoustic sorter, HAS. Total binary separation of 5 and 10 microm diameter particles has been achieved. Numerical simulations of trajectories of particles flowing through a step-SPLITT under the conditions which combine acoustic standing waves and gravity show a very good agreement with the experiment. Calculations in order to compare separations obtained by the acoustic programming s-SPLITT fractionation and the conventional SPLITT fractionation show that the improvement in separation time is around 1 order of magnitude and could still be improved; this is the major finding of this work. This separation technique can be extended to biomimetic particles and blood cells.
Ratier
Claire
C
Laboratoire de Physique et Mécanique des Milieux Hétérogenes, UMR7636 CNRS, ESPCI, 10, Rue Vauquelin, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France.
Hoyos
Mauricio
M
D000162:Acoustics; D002469:Cell Separation; D005591:Chemical Fractionation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005374:Filtration; D057166:High-Throughput Screening Assays; D007840:Latex / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; D008956:Models, Chemical
D007840:Latex; D008567:Membranes, Artificial