Long-term stable electroosmotic pump with ion exchange membranes

Abstract

We present the design, fabrication and test of a novel inline frit-based electroosmotic (EO) pump with ion exchange membranes. The pump is more stable than previous types due to a new flow component that ensures a controlled width of the diffusion layer close to the ion exchange membranes. The pump casing is constructed in polymers while the EO active part, the frit, is made in a nanoporous silica. The pressure capability of the pump is Deltapm/DeltaV = 0.15 bar V(-1). The flow rate to current ratio is Qm/I = 6 microL min(-1) mA(-1). This translates to Deltapm = 4.5 bar and Qm = 6 microL min(-1) at DeltaV = 30 V. The pump has been tested with four different buffer concentrations. In order to investigate day-to-day reproducibility each Q-p pump characteristic has been recorded several times during hour-long operation runs under realistic operating conditions.