Frequency-dependent electroosmosis

This paper presents a theory for frequency-dependent electroosmosis. It is shown that for a closed capillary the electroosmosis frequency-dependent ratio of DeltaV/DeltaP is constant with increasing frequency until inertial effects become prevalent, at which time DeltaV/DeltaP starts to decrease with increasing frequency. The frequency response of the electroosmosis coupling coefficient is shown to be dependent on the capillary radius. As the capillary radius is made smaller, inertial effects start to occur at higher frequencies. As part of this paper, frequency-dependent electroosmosis is compared to frequency-dependent streaming potentials. In this comparison it is shown that inertial effects start to become more prevalent at higher frequencies for the closed capillary frequency-dependent electroosmosis case than for the frequency-dependent streaming potential case in the same capillary. It is also shown that this difference is due to a second viscosity (transverse) wave that emanates from the velocity zero within the capillary for the electroosmosis case. The second viscosity wave superposes with the viscosity wave that emanates from wall of the capillary to effectively reduce the hydraulic radius of the capillary. Data are presented for a 0.127-mm capillary to support the findings in this paper. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).