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Combining Microfluidics and Microrheology to Determine Rheological Properties of Soft Matter during Repeated Phase Transitions
Published on: April 19, 2018
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Microfluidic model systems used to emulate processes occurring during soft particle filtration
Izabella Bouhid de Aguiar1,2, Martine Meireles2, Antoine Bouchoux3
1Laboratory of Food Process Engineering, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Scientific Reports
|March 1, 2019
Summary
Soft microgel particles in membrane processes exhibit reversible deformation under low pressure, but irreversible compression can occur at higher pressures, impacting membrane performance. Cake formation depends on particle and pore properties, not applied pressure.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Fluid Dynamics
Background:
- Cake layer formation is a critical factor affecting membrane process efficiency.
- Soft particles, unlike hard ones, present complex behaviors in cake formation due to their deformability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the behavior of soft polyacrylamide microgels in microfluidic model membranes.
- To understand the influence of pressure and gravity on soft particle cake formation and membrane clogging.
Main Methods:
- In situ optical microscopy for real-time observation of microgel behavior.
- Utilizing microfluidic devices to simulate membrane processes under varying flow and gravity conditions.
Main Results:
- Soft microgels deform and deswell to pass through pores larger than their initial size.
- Membrane clogging time and cake formation are dictated by particle and pore characteristics, independent of applied pressure.
- Reversible deformation occurs at low pressures and gravity; irreversible compression is observed at higher pressures without capillary re-swelling.
Conclusions:
- Soft particle deformability significantly alters membrane performance predictions compared to hard particles.
- Pore size is an unreliable indicator for membrane performance with deformable particles.
- Irreversible compression of soft particle cakes can lead to more severe fouling consequences than with hard particles.
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