Impact of hydrodynamics and rheology of the ion partitioning effect on electrokinetic flow through a soft annulus with a retentive and absorptive wall

The theoretical analysis for the mass transfer process of an oscillatory electroosmotic flow (EOF) in the fractional Jeffrey fluid model is studied through a polyelectrolyte layer (PEL) coated cylindrical annulus with reversible and irreversible wall reactions. The ion partitioning effect is observed due to the difference in permittivity of the PEL and the electrolyte solution, which is accounted for by the Born energy. Considering ion partitioning effects, analytical solutions for induced potential and axial velocity are presented, respectively in both the PEL and electrolyte region from the modified Poisson-Boltzmann equation and the Cauchy momentum equation with a proper constitutive equation, respectively. The Maxwell fluid and classical viscous Newtonian fluid models can be achieved separately by adjusting the relaxation and retardation time in the constitutive equation of this model. The analytical solution of the convection-diffusion equation for solute transport is established in the full domain. The separation of species is found to be dependent mainly on the Damkohler number, absorption parameter, phase partitioning coefficient, etc. It is observed that the osmotic pressure increases with the thickness and fixed charge density of the PEL. The velocity decreases with an increase in the permittivity difference of these layers. Our results suggest that the separation may be achieved through a difference in absorption kinetics.

Automated summary

The theoretical analysis of the mass transfer process in an oscillatory electroosmotic flow (EOF) is studied in a fractional Jeffrey fluid model with a polyelectrolyte layer (PEL) coated cylindrical annulus. The ion partitioning effect is observed due to the difference in permittivity between PEL and the electrolyte solution. Analytical solutions for induced potential and axial velocity are presented for both the PEL and electrolyte regions. The separation of species depends on various factors such as the Damkohler number, absorption parameter, and phase partitioning coefficient.