Transient Electrophoretic Motion of Cylindrical Particles in Capillaries

Abstract

The transient electrophoretic motion of a cylindrical particle through a relatively narrow channel is numerically simulated. The particle is initially located on the channel centerline and the initial angle of the particle to the channel centerline is varied with the objective of determining the effect on the particle trajectory. It is observed that the particles that begin aligned with or perpendicular to the channel centerline translate at a constant rate without rotation. The particles that begin at an intermediate angle (22.5°, 45°, and 67.5°) translate along the channel while also translating perpendicular to the channel centerline and rotating in an oscillatory manner.