Issue 1, 2013

Microfluidic ultralow interfacial tensiometry with magnetic particles

Abstract

We describe a technique that measures ultralow interfacial tensions using paramagnetic spheres in a co-flow microfluidic device designed with a magnetic section. Our method involves tuning the distance between the co-flowing interface and the magnet's center, and observing the behavior of the spheres as they approach the liquid–liquid interface–the particles either pass through or are trapped by the interface. Using threshold values of the magnet-to-interface distance, we make estimates of the two-fluid interfacial tension. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this technique for measuring very low interfacial tensions, O(10−6–10−5) N m−1, by testing solutions of different surfactant concentrations, and we show that our results are comparable with measurements made using a spinning drop tensiometer.

Graphical abstract: Microfluidic ultralow interfacial tensiometry with magnetic particles

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
13 Jul 2012
Accepted
03 Oct 2012
First published
05 Oct 2012

Lab Chip, 2013,13, 119-125

Microfluidic ultralow interfacial tensiometry with magnetic particles

S. S. H. Tsai, J. S. Wexler, J. Wan and H. A. Stone, Lab Chip, 2013, 13, 119 DOI: 10.1039/C2LC40797C

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements