Electrokinetic flow of non-Newtonian fluids in microchannels

A theoretical description of the electrokinetic flow of non-Newtonian fluids through slit and cylindrical microchannels is presented. Calculations are based on constitutive models of the fluid viscosity, and take into account wall depletion effects of colloids and polymer solutions. The resulting equations allow one to predict the flow rate and electric current as functions of the simultaneously applied electric potential and pressure gradients. It is found that (i) nonlinear effects induced by the shear-dependent viscosity are limited to the pressure-driven component of the flow, and (ii) the reciprocity between electroosmosis and streaming current is complied. Thus a generalized form of the force-flux relations is proposed, which is of interest in microfluidic applications. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.