An Experimental Study Of The Electroosmotic Behavior Of Various Glycerol Solutions, Under Varying Potential Difference In A T-Shaped Microchannel Environment

Jones Jenkins

School Name

South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics

Grade Level

12th Grade

Presentation Topic

Engineering

Presentation Type

Mentored

Mentor

Mentor: Xiangchun Xuan, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University

Abstract

Microfluidics data for various fluid solutions (such as different concentrations of glycerol, Ferro fluid, Ph buffers, and MnBr2) is important for the invention and manufacture of mechanical microfluidic devices created for a variety of applications (mostly “lab on a chip” applications, the goal of which is the miniaturization of biological and chemical tests to the size of microscope slides). The goal of these experiments is to determine the electroosmotic behavior of different concentrations of glycerol solution ( 0%, 5%, 10%, 20%, and 30% by mass) under various electric field strengths (Between 500 - 1300 Volts dc), in a T-shaped microchannel. The behavior of the solutions is observed under a microscope, with a selective frequency light source, and a fluorescent Rhodamine B dye as the secondary solution. Recordings are taken of the solution’s behavior for later analysis. Criteria of this behavioral analysis include the threshold voltage range at which instability at the barrier between the glycerol and dye solutions became apparent, the correlations between voltage, instability wave frequency and amplitude, and the different instability behaviors as you look further away from the beginning of the barrier between the glycerol and dye solutions. It was determined that as the strength of the electric field increases, the frequency of the instability increases until a certain point, where the wave form becomes more jagged and the frequency drops, then increases gradually with the electric field strength. It was also determined that the relationship between glycerol concentration and threshold voltage at which instability first occurs is linear.

Start Date

4-11-2015 9:00 AM

End Date

4-11-2015 9:15 AM

COinS
 
Apr 11th, 9:00 AM Apr 11th, 9:15 AM

An Experimental Study Of The Electroosmotic Behavior Of Various Glycerol Solutions, Under Varying Potential Difference In A T-Shaped Microchannel Environment

Microfluidics data for various fluid solutions (such as different concentrations of glycerol, Ferro fluid, Ph buffers, and MnBr2) is important for the invention and manufacture of mechanical microfluidic devices created for a variety of applications (mostly “lab on a chip” applications, the goal of which is the miniaturization of biological and chemical tests to the size of microscope slides). The goal of these experiments is to determine the electroosmotic behavior of different concentrations of glycerol solution ( 0%, 5%, 10%, 20%, and 30% by mass) under various electric field strengths (Between 500 - 1300 Volts dc), in a T-shaped microchannel. The behavior of the solutions is observed under a microscope, with a selective frequency light source, and a fluorescent Rhodamine B dye as the secondary solution. Recordings are taken of the solution’s behavior for later analysis. Criteria of this behavioral analysis include the threshold voltage range at which instability at the barrier between the glycerol and dye solutions became apparent, the correlations between voltage, instability wave frequency and amplitude, and the different instability behaviors as you look further away from the beginning of the barrier between the glycerol and dye solutions. It was determined that as the strength of the electric field increases, the frequency of the instability increases until a certain point, where the wave form becomes more jagged and the frequency drops, then increases gradually with the electric field strength. It was also determined that the relationship between glycerol concentration and threshold voltage at which instability first occurs is linear.