High-throughput electro-microfluidic phase separator

Abstract

Immiscible two-phase droplet flow in microchannels serves as a widely utilized platform for various applications, including solvent extraction, material synthesis, and chemical reactions. However, achieving rapid phase separation at high throughput remains a challenge. This study presents an electro-microfluidic phase separator that integrates an insulated alternating current electric field with a flat microchannel to facilitate droplet coalescence and phase separation. Two primary mechanisms of phase separation are identified: droplet-to-droplet coalescence and droplet-to-layer coalescence. The YOLOv5 deep learning algorithm is employed to identify droplets and evaluate their sizes. A robust phase separator has been developed, demonstrating the capability to achieve rapid phase separation with a throughput of up to 200 mL/min. Furthermore, the study examines the effects of electrolyte concentration, phase ratio, flow rate, and the voltage and frequency of the electric field on phase separation. The synergistic effect of the design in enhancing phase separation at high throughput is confirmed.