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Giesler J, Weirauch L, Thöming J, Baune M. Compensation of capacitive currents in high-throughput dielectrophoretic separators. Sci Rep 2024; 14:16491. [PMID: 39020049 PMCID: PMC11255223 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-67030-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Separation and classification are important operations in particle technology, but they are still limited in terms of suspended particles in the micrometer and nanometer size-range. Electrical fields can be beneficial for sorting such particles according to material properties. A mechanism based on strong and inhomogeneous fields is dielectrophoresis (DEP). It can be used to separate microparticles according to their material properties, such as conductivity and permittivity, by selectively trapping one particle type while the other can pass the separator. Conventional DEP-separators show either a limitation in throughput or frequency bandwidth. A low throughput limits the economical feasibility in many cases. A lower frequency bandwidth limits the variety of materials that can be sorted by DEP. To separate semiconducting particles from a mixture containing particles with higher conductivity according to their material, high frequencies are required. Possible applications are the separation of semiconducting and metallic carbon nanotubes or the separation of carbon-coated lithium iron phosphate particles from graphite in the recycling process of spent lithium-ion batteries. In this publication, we aim to display how to tune the electrical impedance of a high-throughput DEP separator based on custom-designed printed circuit boards to increase its frequency bandwidth. By adding inductors to the electrical circuit, we were able to increase the frequency bandwidth from 500 kHz to over 11 MHz. The experiments in this study act as proof-of-principle. Furthermore, a non-deterministic way to increase the impedance of the setup is shown, yielding a maximum frequency of 39.16 MHz.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasper Giesler
- Chemical Process Engineering, Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, Leobener Straße 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Laura Weirauch
- Chemical Process Engineering, Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, Leobener Straße 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Jorg Thöming
- Chemical Process Engineering, Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, Leobener Straße 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany
- MAPEX Center for Materials and Processes, University of Bremen, 28359, Bremen, Germany
- Center for Environmental Research and Sustainable Technology (UFT), University of Bremen, Leobener Straße 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Michael Baune
- Chemical Process Engineering, Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, Leobener Straße 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany.
- Center for Environmental Research and Sustainable Technology (UFT), University of Bremen, Leobener Straße 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany.
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Giesler J, Weirauch L, Pesch GR, Baune M, Thöming J. Semi-continuous dielectrophoretic separation at high throughput using printed circuit boards. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20696. [PMID: 38001123 PMCID: PMC10673871 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47571-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Particle separation is an essential part of many processes. One mechanism to separate particles according to size, shape, or material properties is dielectrophoresis (DEP). DEP arises when a polarizable particle is immersed in an inhomogeneous electric field. DEP can attract microparticles toward the local field maxima or repulse them from these locations. In biotechnology and microfluidic devices, this is a well-described and established method to separate (bio-)particles. Increasing the throughput of DEP separators while maintaining their selectivity is a field of current research. In this study, we investigate two approaches to increase the overall throughput of an electrode-based DEP separator that uses selective trapping of particles. We studied how particle concentration affects the separation process by using two differently-sized graphite particles. We showed that concentrations up to 800 mg/L can be processed without decreasing the collection rate depending on the particle size. As a second approach to increase the throughput, parallelization in combination with two four-way valves, relays, and stepper motors was presented and successfully tested to continuously separate conducting from non-conducting particles. By demonstrating possible concentrations and enabling a semi-continuous process, this study brings the low-cost DEP setup based on printed circuit boards one step closer to real-world applications. The principle for semi-continuous processing is also applicable for other DEP devices that use trapping DEP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasper Giesler
- Chemical Process Engineering, Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Laura Weirauch
- Chemical Process Engineering, Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Georg R Pesch
- Chemical Process Engineering, Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Michael Baune
- Chemical Process Engineering, Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- Center for Environmental Research and Sustainable Technology (UFT), University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Jorg Thöming
- Chemical Process Engineering, Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany.
- Center for Environmental Research and Sustainable Technology (UFT), University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany.
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Kepper M, Karim MN, Baune M, Thöming J, Pesch GR. Influence of the filter grain morphology on separation efficiency in dielectrophoretic filtration. Electrophoresis 2023; 44:1645-1654. [PMID: 37380622 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202300075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Recovery of noble materials from waste is essential for industries around the globe. Dielectrophoretic (DEP) filtration, an electrically switchable particle separation technique, can be applied to tackle this challenge. It is highly selective regarding particle size, material or shape. Expanding the scope of DEP towards high throughput and improving the trapping efficiency are vital to make DEP a viable robust alternative to conventional separation methods. DEP filtration works by selective immobilisation of particles in a porous medium by the action of an inhomogeneous electric field. The field inhomogeneity comes from scattering an electric field at the phase boundary between the particle suspension and the filter surface. In this article, we show how the filter structure affects the DEP separation. We study fixed bed filters of three different grain types and find that the morphology of the grains highly influences the DEP filter efficiency. Specifically, grains with irregular surface structure and high perceived angularity show high separation efficiency. We believe these insights into the design of DEP filtration will pave the way towards its application in, for example, the recovery of valuable materials from electronic waste dust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariia Kepper
- Faculty of Production Engineering, Chemical Process Engineering (CVT), University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Md Nurul Karim
- Faculty of Production Engineering, Advanced Ceramics, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Michael Baune
- Faculty of Production Engineering, Chemical Process Engineering (CVT), University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Jorg Thöming
- Faculty of Production Engineering, Chemical Process Engineering (CVT), University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- MAPEX Center for Materials and Processes, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Georg R Pesch
- Faculty of Production Engineering, Chemical Process Engineering (CVT), University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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Giesler J, Weirauch L, Rother A, Thöming J, Pesch GR, Baune M. Sorting Lithium-Ion Battery Electrode Materials Using Dielectrophoresis. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:26635-26643. [PMID: 37521612 PMCID: PMC10373188 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c04057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are common in everyday life and the demand for their raw materials is increasing. Additionally, spent LIBs should be recycled to achieve a circular economy and supply resources for new LIBs or other products. Especially the recycling of the active material of the electrodes is the focus of current research. Existing approaches for recycling (e.g., pyro-, hydrometallurgy, or flotation) still have their drawbacks, such as the loss of materials, generation of waste, or lack of selectivity. In this study, we test the behavior of commercially available LiFePO4 and two types of graphite microparticles in a dielectrophoretic high-throughput filter. Dielectrophoresis is a volume-dependent electrokinetic force that is commonly used in microfluidics but recently also for applications that focus on enhanced throughput. In our study, graphite particles show significantly higher trapping than LiFePO4 particles. The results indicate that nearly pure fractions of LiFePO4 can be obtained with this technique from a mixture with graphite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasper Giesler
- Chemical
Process Engineering, Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, Bremen 28359, Germany
| | - Laura Weirauch
- Chemical
Process Engineering, Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, Bremen 28359, Germany
| | - Alica Rother
- Center
for Environmental Research and Sustainable Technology (UFT), University of Bremen, Bremen 28359, Germany
| | - Jorg Thöming
- Chemical
Process Engineering, Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, Bremen 28359, Germany
- Center
for Environmental Research and Sustainable Technology (UFT), University of Bremen, Bremen 28359, Germany
| | - Georg R. Pesch
- School
of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Michael Baune
- Chemical
Process Engineering, Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, Bremen 28359, Germany
- Center
for Environmental Research and Sustainable Technology (UFT), University of Bremen, Bremen 28359, Germany
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Weber MU, Petkowski JJ, Weber RE, Krajnik B, Stemplewski S, Panek M, Dziubak T, Mrozinska P, Piela A, Lo SL, Montanaro Ochoa HF, Yerino CD. Chip for dielectrophoretic microbial capture, separation and detection I: theoretical basis of electrode design. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2023; 34:135502. [PMID: 36571849 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/acae5c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
We model the dielectrophoretic response ofE. colibacterial cells and red blood cells, upon exposure to an electric field. We model the separation, capture, and release mechanisms under flow conditions in a microfluidic channel and show under which conditions efficient separation of different cell types occurs. The modelling work is aimed to guide the separation electrode architecture and design for experimental validation of the model. The dielectrophoretic force is affected both by the geometry of the electrodes (the gradient of the electric field), the Re{CM(ω)} factor, and the permittivity of the medium ϵm. Our modelling makes testable predictions and shows that designing the electrode structure to ensure structure periodicity with spacing between consecutive traps smaller than the length of the depletion zone ensures efficient capture and separation. Such electrode system has higher capture and separation efficiency than systems with the established circular electrode architecture. The simulated, modelled microfluidic design allows for the separated bacteria, concentrated by dedicated dielectrophoretic regions, to be subsequently detected using label-free functionalized nanowire sensors. The experimental validation of the modelling work presented here and the validation of the theoretical design constraints of the chip electrode architecture is presented in the companion paper in the same issue (Weber MUet al2022 Chip for dielectrophoretic Microbial Capture, Separation and Detection II: Experimental Study).
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika U Weber
- Departments of Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics, Yale University, 15 Prospect St., 06520 New Haven, CT, United States of America
- Hener, Wrocław Technology Park, BETA Building, Room 104, Klecińska 125, 54-413, Wrocław, Poland
| | | | - Robert E Weber
- Hener, Wrocław Technology Park, BETA Building, Room 104, Klecińska 125, 54-413, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Bartosz Krajnik
- Hener, Wrocław Technology Park, BETA Building, Room 104, Klecińska 125, 54-413, Wrocław, Poland
- Department of Experimental Physics, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wyb. S. Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Slawomir Stemplewski
- Hener, Wrocław Technology Park, BETA Building, Room 104, Klecińska 125, 54-413, Wrocław, Poland
- Institute of Computer Science, Opole University, ul. Oleska 48, 45-052, Opole, Poland
| | - Marta Panek
- Hener, Wrocław Technology Park, BETA Building, Room 104, Klecińska 125, 54-413, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Tomasz Dziubak
- Hener, Wrocław Technology Park, BETA Building, Room 104, Klecińska 125, 54-413, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Paulina Mrozinska
- Hener, Wrocław Technology Park, BETA Building, Room 104, Klecińska 125, 54-413, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Anna Piela
- Hener, Wrocław Technology Park, BETA Building, Room 104, Klecińska 125, 54-413, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Siu Lung Lo
- Departments of Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics, Yale University, 15 Prospect St., 06520 New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Hazael F Montanaro Ochoa
- Departments of Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics, Yale University, 15 Prospect St., 06520 New Haven, CT, United States of America
- Laboratory for Acoustics and Noise control, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dubendorf, Switzerland
| | - Christopher D Yerino
- Departments of Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics, Yale University, 15 Prospect St., 06520 New Haven, CT, United States of America
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Giesler J, Weirauch L, Thöming J, Baune M, Pesch GR. High-throughput dielectrophoretic separator based on printed circuit boards. Electrophoresis 2023; 44:72-81. [PMID: 35968886 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202200131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
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 × 120 mm board size). The boards consist of interdigitated electrode arrays with 250 μ $250\ \umu$ m electrode width and spacing. We demonstrate the separation capabilities using polystyrene particles ranging from 500 nm to 6 μ $6\ \umu$ 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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasper Giesler
- Chemical Process Engineering, Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, Leobener Straße 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Laura Weirauch
- Chemical Process Engineering, Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, Leobener Straße 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Jorg Thöming
- Chemical Process Engineering, Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, Leobener Straße 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany
- MAPEX Center for Materials and Processes, University of Bremen, 28359, Bremen, Germany
- Center for Environmental Research and Sustainable Technology (UFT), University of Bremen, Leobener Straße 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Michael Baune
- Chemical Process Engineering, Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, Leobener Straße 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany
- Center for Environmental Research and Sustainable Technology (UFT), University of Bremen, Leobener Straße 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Georg R Pesch
- Chemical Process Engineering, Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, Leobener Straße 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany
- MAPEX Center for Materials and Processes, University of Bremen, 28359, Bremen, Germany
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7
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Low‐cost, high‐throughput and rapid‐prototyped 3D‐integrated dielectrophoretic channels for continuous cell enrichment and separation. Electrophoresis 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/elps.202200234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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