Numerical Model of Electrokinetic Flow for Capillary Electrophoresis

A numerical study is presented for the steady electrokinetic flow in intersecting channels in a T-shaped configuration. The electric potential and space charge density distribution along the capillary are obtained numerically by solving the nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann equation for arbitrary electrokinetic radius and arbitrary surface potential. The velocity and pressure profiles are obtained by solving a modified Navier-Stokes equation using a primitive variable algorithm. A systematic study of flow in T-shaped intersecting channels showed that the hydrodynamic effect is an important factor that influences fluid leakage out of a channel where the electric potential is left floating. It was found that the flow in each channel can be controlled by applying a potential at each reservoir connected to the end of a channel. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.