Focusing, sorting, and separating microplastics by serial faradaic ion concentration polarization

Abstract

, serial fICP). Second, complex flow variations that adversely impact separations during fICP can be mitigated by minimizing convection by electroosmotic flow in favor of pressure-driven flow. Finally, serial fICP within a trifurcated microchannel is able to continuously and quantitatively focus, sort, and separate microplastics. These findings demonstrate that multiple local electric field gradients can be generated within a single microfluidic channel by simply placing metal wires at strategic locations. This approach opens a vast range of new possibilities for implementing membrane-free separations.

Topics & Concepts