A study of molecular diffusion across a water/oil interface in a Y–Y shaped microfluidic device

• Published in: Microfluidics and nanofluidics Vol. 11; no. 5; pp. 593 - 600
• Main Authors: Ciceri, Davide, Perera, Jilska M., Stevens, Geoffrey W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.11.2011; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analytical Chemistry; Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Chemical speciation; Chemistry; Electrochemistry; Engineering; Engineering Fluid Dynamics; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Nanotechnology and Microengineering; Research Paper; Solvent extraction; Study of interfaces; Transport phenomena; Co(II); Molecular diffusion; 8-hydroxyquinoline; Solvent extraction; Microfluidics; Transport process; Fluid mechanics; Liquid liquid interface
• ISSN: 1613-4982; 1613-4990
• DOI: 10.1007/s10404-011-0824-3

The diffusion behaviour of Co(II) ion in an aqueous homogeneous system and that of 8-hydroxyquinoline (8HQ) in a heterogeneous liquid–liquid system was measured in a Y–Y shaped microfluidic device. We propose a modified version of a previously published equation for a static system to describe the diffusion behaviour of chemical species in this microfluidic device. Specific adaptations of the original equation to the micro environment are illustrated and discussed. The model proposed successfully fitted the diffusion of Co(II) in a homogeneous system (aqueous solutions) and 8HQ across a water/oil interface. We envisage the application of the proposed equation for the discrimination of the diffusion contribution in solvent extraction kinetic studies.