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Analysis of co-flowing immiscible liquid streams and their interfaces in a high-throughput solvent extraction chip

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Abstract

Liquid–liquid flow profiles are central to the operation of microfluidic devices in a range of applications. We recently demonstrated a multi-stream solvent extraction (SX) chip that combines high-surface-to-volume ratios and volumetric throughput. Here, we study these flow profiles in detail using numerical simulations, with consideration of different boundary conditions. The two liquids differ in viscosity, modelled on platinum (aqueous) and extractant (organic) phases, and the position of the liquid–liquid interfaces (and therefore surface/volume and phase ratios) can be controlled by adjustment of flow rates. The prediction of the position of the interface requires the solution of the governing equations of fluid mechanics. The volume of fluid (VOF) method was used to simulate the dynamics of the organic and aqueous phases to reveal stable flow profiles. This experimentally validated computational model with the root-mean-square deviation of about 11 µm will be useful for simulation of microfluidic SX design and operation, particularly where process intensification is sought through scale-out.

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Acknowledgement

This work was conducted (in part) using the ‘Design House’ facilities at the South Australia node of the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF-SA), a company established under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy to provide nano- and micro-fabrication facilities for Australia’s researchers. The authors thank the Government of South Australia, Anglo Platinum, and Johnson Matthey for support through the Premier Science and Industry Fund (IRGP38).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, 5095, Australia

    Moein Navvab Kashani, Frederik H. Kriel, Claudia Binder & Craig Priest

  2. South Australian Node, Australian National Fabrication Facility, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, 5095, Australia

    Moein Navvab Kashani & Craig Priest

Authors
  1. Moein Navvab Kashani
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  2. Frederik H. Kriel
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  3. Claudia Binder
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  4. Craig Priest
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Contributions

MNK conducted the simulations. FHK, CB and CP refined the simulations by providing experimental data, parameters and observations. All authors contributed to the interpretation of results.

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Correspondence to Craig Priest.

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Navvab Kashani, M., Kriel, F.H., Binder, C. et al. Analysis of co-flowing immiscible liquid streams and their interfaces in a high-throughput solvent extraction chip. Microfluid Nanofluid 24, 19 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-020-2320-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-020-2320-0

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