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Inertial microfluidics for continuous particle filtration and extraction

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Abstract

In this paper, we describe a simple passive microfluidic device with rectangular microchannel geometry for continuous particle filtration. The design takes advantage of preferential migration of particles in rectangular microchannels based on shear-induced inertial lift forces. These dominant inertial forces cause particles to move laterally and occupy equilibrium positions along the longer vertical microchannel walls. Using this principle, we demonstrate extraction of 590 nm particles from a mixture of 1.9 μm and 590 nm particles in a straight microfluidic channel with rectangular cross-section. Based on the theoretical analysis and experimental data, we describe conditions required for predicting the onset of particle equilibration in square and rectangular microchannels. The microfluidic channel design has a simple planar structure and can be easily integrated with on-chip microfluidic components for filtration and extraction of wide range of particle sizes. The ability to continuously and differentially equilibrate particles of different size without external forces in microchannels is expected to have numerous applications in filtration, cytometry, and bioseparations.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a seed grant from the University of Cincinnati Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Health Pilot Research Project Training Program of the University of Cincinnati Education and Research Center (T42/OH008432-04).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Cincinnati, 814 Rhodes Hall, ML030, Cincinnati, OH, 45040, USA

    Ali Asgar S. Bhagat, Sathyakumar S. Kuntaegowdanahalli & Ian Papautsky

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  1. Ali Asgar S. Bhagat
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  2. Sathyakumar S. Kuntaegowdanahalli
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  3. Ian Papautsky
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Correspondence to Ian Papautsky.

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Bhagat, A.A.S., Kuntaegowdanahalli, S.S. & Papautsky, I. Inertial microfluidics for continuous particle filtration and extraction. Microfluid Nanofluid 7, 217–226 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-008-0377-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-008-0377-2

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