ABSTRACT
Previously reported theories for cyclical electrical field flow fractionation (CyElFFF) are severely limited in that they do not account for diffusion, steric, or electric double layer effects. Experiments have shown that these theories overpredict the retention of particles in CyElFFF. In this work, we present a model for prediction of steric, diffusion, and electrical effects. The electrical double layer effects are treated using a lumped electrical circuit model that accounts for the field shielding by the electrical double layer formed at the electrode-carrier interface. The electrical effects are shown to dominate retention times and outweigh the contributions of diffusion and particle size. Detailed results from the simulations are presented in this work, and a comparison between the theoretical and experimental results obtained from the retentions of polystyrene particle standards is presented in this paper. The models are shown to correctly predict the retention of the polystyrene standards in CyElFFF with a reasonable error, while existing models are shown to have significant failings.
Subject(s)
Electricity , Fractionation, Field Flow , Models, ChemicalABSTRACT
A microscale cyclical electrical field flow fractionation (CyElFFF) channel is characterized with regard to the effect of various operating parameters and comparison made to recent theoretical developments. Challenges associated with various operating conditions are reported along with some of the optimized operating parameters. The effect of retention wall choice, an offset voltage, relaxation steps, and flow rates, along with the basic operating parameters of voltage, frequency, and electrophoretic mobility are reported. Retention of polystyrene nanoparticle standards is accomplished and the first separations using this technique in a microscale system are also demonstrated. Relaxation steps and offset voltages are found to be effective in eliminating early peaks and in improving plate heights. Plate heights were also found to decrease with increasing flow rates, which is the opposite of the behavior seen in most existing chromatographic systems. The experimental results are compared to the analytical and empirical models of CyElFFF and found to be compatible. Suggestions are made for improving the separation and analysis methods used with CyElFFF.
ABSTRACT
Recent work with cyclical electrical field-flow fractionation systems has shown promise for the technique as a separation and analysis tool, but little is understood about how the carrier composition in the system affects its capabilities. The electrical properties of microscale CyElFFF systems change when the carrier ionic conditions are altered, and it is well known that the effects of increasing ionic strength carriers on retention in normal ElFFF systems are severe. Specifically, retention levels fall significantly. Accordingly, this work seeks to understand the effect that increasing carrier ionic strength in CyElFFF has on nanoparticle retention in the channels. The retention of polystyrene particles in the CyElFFF microsystem is reported at various ionic strengths of ammonium carbonate and at a variety of pH levels. The experiments are compared to the theory of CyElFFF available in the literature. The results indicate that the ionic strength of the carrier has a significant impact on retention and that high ionic strength carrier solutions lead to poor performance of the CyElFFF system. These results have significant impact on the possible uses of the technique and its applications, especially in the biomedical arena.
ABSTRACT
Stenosis-induced thrombosis and abandonment of the hemodialysis synthetic graft is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. The graft vascular circuit is a unique low-resistance shunt that has not yet been systematically evaluated. In this study, we developed a mathematical model of this circuit. Pressure losses (deltaPs) were measured in an in vitro experimental apparatus and compared with losses predicted by equations from the engineering literature. We considered the inflow artery, arterial and venous anastomoses, graft, stenosis, and outflow vein. We found significant differences between equations and experimental results, and attributed these differences to the transitional nature of the flow. Adjustment of the equations led to good agreement with experimental data. The resulting mathematical model predicts relations between stenosis, blood flow, intragraft pressure, and important clinical variables such as mean arterial blood pressure and hematocrit. Application of the model should improve understanding of the hemodynamics of the stenotic graft vascular circuit.
