Abstract
In this study, dielectrophoresis (DEP) has been coupled with field-flow fractionation (FFF) for the sorting and trapping of the biological particles. A numerical simulation is performed to compute particle trajectories under the influence of DEP, drag, gravitational, and buoyancy forces, as well as Brownian motion. The simulation was performed using OpenFOAM CFD software. Both positive and negative DEP methods are examined as possible separation techniques for DNA fragments. Positive DEP forces are used to attract the particles to the electrodes and trap them in groups of similar particles while a combination of negative DEP forces and field flow fractionation (FFF) are used to levitate the particles within the fluid flow to certain flow trajectories. The results obtained from this study, including electric field simulations, particle trajectories, elution times, and trapping lengths are presented.
