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Particle interaction effects on blood cell sedimentation and separations
1Chemical Engineering Department, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-2710.
Biorheology
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Optimizing blood cell separation in continuous centrifuges requires lower red blood cell (RBC) concentrations. New models using effective porosity improve predictions for separating leukocytes and platelets from RBCs.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Fluid Dynamics
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Conventional hindered settling models fail to explain optimal blood cell separation.
- Differences in cell size, density, deformability, and surface charge affect separation dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop improved models for predicting optimal blood cell separation conditions.
- To account for micro-environmental differences influencing particle separation.
Main Methods:
- Experimental analysis using a continuous centrifuge.
- Development of a new approach incorporating effective porosity into sedimentation models.
Main Results:
- Maximum separation of leukocytes (WBCs) and platelets from erythrocytes (RBCs) occurs at reduced RBC concentrations (hematocrit).
- Effective porosity models provide better predictions of optimal separation conditions compared to conventional models.
Conclusions:
- A novel approach using effective porosity enhances the understanding of blood cell separation dynamics.
- Further model parameter adjustments are needed to fully align predictions with experimental data.
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