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Bubble-free electrokinetic flow with propylene carbonate.

Deepa Sritharan1, Abraham Simpson Chen1, Prabhath Aluthgama1

  • 1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.

Electrophoresis
|July 17, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Propylene carbonate (PC) offers a bubble-free alternative to water for direct-current electrokinetic pumping. This polar liquid enables reliable operation in sealed systems and can replace water in existing pumps.

Keywords:
Electroconjugate flowElectrolytic degradationMicrofluidicSoft lithographySoft robotics

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Area of Science:

  • Electrokinetics
  • Microfluidics
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Direct-current electrokinetic pumping typically uses aqueous electrolytes, which are prone to electrolysis at high electric fields.
  • Water electrolysis produces gases that cause bubble formation, leading to system blockages, pressure fluctuations, and pump failure, thus limiting device design.
  • Managing these electrolysis-generated gases complicates electrokinetic pump designs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce propylene carbonate (PC) as a viable alternative polar liquid for direct-current electrokinetic pumping.
  • To demonstrate the potential of PC to overcome the limitations associated with water electrolysis in electrokinetic devices.
  • To explore the feasibility of using PC in closed-system electrokinetic devices.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated the bubble formation characteristics of propylene carbonate (PC) under high direct-current electric fields (up to 10 kV/cm).
  • Evaluated the electroosmotic velocity of PC in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchannels.
  • Designed and demonstrated a fully sealed microfluidic hydraulic actuator utilizing PC.

Main Results:

  • Propylene carbonate (PC) remained bubble-free up to electric field strengths of at least 10 kV/cm, unlike water.
  • The electroosmotic velocity of PC in PDMS microchannels was found to be comparable to that of water.
  • A functional, fully sealed microfluidic hydraulic actuator was successfully demonstrated using PC.

Conclusions:

  • Propylene carbonate (PC) is a promising bubble-free alternative to water for direct-current electrokinetic pumping.
  • The use of PC enables the development of robust, closed-configuration electrokinetic devices.
  • PC can potentially be substituted for water in existing electroosmotic pump designs without significant performance loss.