Particle separation in surface acoustic wave microfluidic devices using reprogrammable, pseudo-standing waves

Simon, G., Pailhas, Y., Andrade, M. A.B., Reboud, J. , Marques-Hueso, J., Desmulliez, M. P.Y., Cooper, J. M. , Riehle, M. O. and Bernassau, A. L. (2018) Particle separation in surface acoustic wave microfluidic devices using reprogrammable, pseudo-standing waves. Applied Physics Letters, 113(4), 044101. (doi: 10.1063/1.5035261)

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Abstract

We report size and density/compressibility-based particle sorting using on-off quasi-standing waves based on the frequency difference between two ultrasonic transducers. The 13.3 MHz fundamental operating frequency of the surface acoustic wave microfluidic device allows the manipulation of particles on the micrometer scale. Experiments, validated by computational fluid dynamics, were carried out to demonstrate size-based sorting of 5–14.5 μm diameter polystyrene (PS) particles and density/compressibility-based sorting of 10 μm PS, iron-oxide, and poly(methyl methacrylate) particles, with densities ranging from 1.05 to 1.5 g/cm3. The method shows a sorting efficiency of >90% and a purity of >80% for particle separation of 10 μm and 14.5 μm, demonstrating better performance than similar sorting methods recently published (72%–83% efficiency). The sorting technique demonstrates high selectivity separation of particles, with the smallest particle ratio being 1.33, compared to 2.5 in previous work. Density/compressibility-based sorting of polystyrene and iron-oxide particles showed an efficiency of 97 ± 4% and a purity of 91 ± 5%. By varying the sign of the acoustic excitation signal, continuous batch acoustic sorting of target particles to a desired outlet was demonstrated with good sorting stability against variations of the inflow rates.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Riehle, Dr Mathis and Bernassau, Dr Anne and Cooper, Professor Jonathan and Reboud, Professor Julien
Authors: Simon, G., Pailhas, Y., Andrade, M. A.B., Reboud, J., Marques-Hueso, J., Desmulliez, M. P.Y., Cooper, J. M., Riehle, M. O., and Bernassau, A. L.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Molecular Biosciences
College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Biomedical Engineering
College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering
Journal Name:Applied Physics Letters
Publisher:AIP Publishing
ISSN:0003-6951
ISSN (Online):1077-3118
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2018 AIP Publishing
First Published:First published in Applied Physics Letters 113(4): 044101
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

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