Nanoscience and Microsystems ETDs
Publication Date
Summer 7-11-2024
Abstract
Continuous Countercurrent Microfluidic Liquid-Liquid Extraction (CC-MLLE) shows tremendous potential to generate large numbers of equilibrium stages of separation in a small footprint, with a minimum of pumping, valving, and phase separation steps. However, CC-MLLE rarely appears in literature because it requires a delicate balance between capillary and hydrodynamic forces for deterministic flow.
This dissertation showcases a patented screen mesh-based CC-MLLE invention that performs stable, long-duration (> 36 hr.), countercurrent liquid-liquid extraction and achieves 37 equilibrium stages within a 38.5 μl internal volume. The device is fabricated from chemically resistant polyetheretherketone plastic, using standard machine shop equipment, a plotting cutter, screen printing techniques, and regional UV-Ozone surface treatment to promote conjugate (organic/aqueous) wettability. Flow and data acquisition are automated through LabVIEW and Thorlabs Kinesis programming, and performance is monitored with real-time optical-based techniques including Raman spectroscopy and a novel optical sensor (patent pending) for quantifying liquid-liquid composition in a length of transparent tubing. Extraction performance is demonstrated with a tert butanol solute in a toluene/water liquid-liquid matrix. This work details design considerations, including a derived dimensionless number relating capillary to hydrodynamic pressure, and methods of analysis for calculating extraction performance.
Keywords
Microfluidic liquid-liquid extraction, microfluidic solvent extraction, microfluidic surface wettability
Sponsors
Research was supported by the Laboratory Directed Research and Development program of Los Alamos National Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Agency. Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by Triad National Security, LLC, for the National Nuclear Security Administration of U.S. Department of Energy (Contract No. 89233218CNA000001).
Document Type
Dissertation
Language
English
Level of Degree
Doctoral
Department Name
Nanoscience and Microsystems
First Committee Member (Chair)
Andrew P. Shreve
Second Committee Member
Nick J. Carroll
Third Committee Member
Sang M. Han
Fourth Committee Member
George S. Goff
Fifth Committee Member
Nathan Jackson
Recommended Citation
McCulloch, Quinn. "Development and Characterization of Automated Screen Mesh-Based Microfluidic Device to Perform Continuous Countercurrent Liquid-liquid Extraction." (2024). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/nsms_etds/82
