Optimizing the Performance of the Entropic Splitter for Particle Separation
arXiv:1406.4708 · doi:10.1063/1.4892615
Abstract
Recently, it has been shown that entropy can be used to sort Brownian particles according to their size. In particular, a combination of a static and a time-dependent force applied on differently sized particles which are confined in an asymmetric periodic structure can be used to separate them efficiently, by forcing them to move in opposite directions. In this paper, we investigate the optimization of the performance of the 'entropic splitter'. Specifically, the splitting mechanism and how it depends on the geometry of the channel, and the frequency and strength of the periodic forcing is analyzed. Using numerical simulations, we demonstrate that a very efficient and fast separation with a practically 100% purity can be achieved by a proper optimization of the control variables. The results of this work could be useful for a more efficient separation of dispersed phases such as DNA fragments or colloids dependent on their size.
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- Giant enhancement of hydrodynamically enforced entropic trapping in thin channels
- Hydrodynamic drift ratchet scalability
- A nanoporous capacitive electrochemical ratchet for continuous ion separations
- Enhanced diffusion in soft-walled channels with a periodically varying curvature
- Mass-based separation of active Brownian particles in an asymmetric channel