High-throughput dielectrophoretic separator based on printed circuit boards

The separation of particles with respect to their intrinsic properties is an ongoing task in various fields such as biotechnology and recycling of electronic waste. Especially for small particles in the lower micrometer or nanometer range, separation techniques are a field of current research since many existing approaches lack either throughput or selectivity. Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is a technique that can address multiple particle properties, making it a potential candidate to solve challenging separation tasks. Currently, DEP is mostly used in microfluidic separators and thus limited in throughput. Additionally, DEP setups often require expensive components, such as electrode arrays fabricated in the clean room. Here, we present and characterize a separator based on two inexpensive custom-designed printed circuit boards (80 x 120 mm board size). The boards consist of interdigitated electrode arrays with 250 mu$250\ \umu$m electrode width and spacing. We demonstrate the separation capabilities using polystyrene particles ranging from 500 nm to 6 mu$6\ \umu$m in monodisperse experiments. Further, we demonstrate selective trapping at flow rates up to 240 ml/h in the presented device for a binary mixture. Our experiments demonstrate an affordable way to increase throughput in electrode-based DEP separators.

Automated summary

The ongoing task of separating particles based on their intrinsic properties is crucial in fields such as biotechnology and electronic waste recycling. Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is a promising technique for addressing multiple particle properties and improving throughput in electrode-based separators. By utilizing inexpensive custom-designed printed circuit boards, the separator demonstrated efficient particle separation and selective trapping capabilities.