title: Hydrodynamic chromatography and field flow fractionation in finite aspect ratio channels.
abstract: Hydrodynamic chromatography (HC) and field-flow fractionation (FFF) separation methods are often performed in 3D rectangular channels, though ideal retention theory assumes 2D systems. Devices are commonly designed with large aspect ratios; however, it can be unavoidable or desirable to design rectangular channels with small or even near-unity aspect ratios. To assess the significance of finite-aspect ratio effects and interpret experimental retention results, an ideal, analytical retention theory is needed. We derive a series solution for the ideal retention ratio of HC and FFF rectangular channels. Rather than limiting devices' ability to resolve samples, our theory predicts that retention curves for normal-mode FFF are well approximated by the infinite plate solution and that the performance of HC is actually improved. These findings suggest that FFF devices need not be designed with large aspect ratios and that rectangular HC channels are optimal when the aspect ratio is unity.
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa, Department of Physics, 150 Louis-Pasteur, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada. Electronic address: tyler.shendruk@physics.ox.ac.uk.
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Shendruk
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa, Department of Physics, 150 Louis-Pasteur, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada. Electronic address: gslater@uottawa.ca.
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Slater
mesh_terms: D002845:Chromatography / Q000379:methods*; D031521:Fractionation, Field Flow / Q000379:methods*; D057446:Hydrodynamics
keywords: Field-flow fractionation; Hydrodynamic chromatography; Rectangular channel; Retention theory