LTCC 3D FLOW FOCALIZATION DEVICE FOR LIQUID-LIQUID PARTIAL SOLVENT EXTRACTION

Abstract

Abstract The present work shows a ceramics microfluidic device for partial solvent extraction scheme. The technology used for device fabrication was Low Temperature Cofired Ceramics (LTCC) which allows us for complex and chemical resistant 3D microfluidic devices. The proposed system aims to partially extract the solvent present in a mixture containing aqueous and organic phases. This scheme uses a 3D flow focalization in order to improve the solvent diffusion into the external aqueous phase. The device is composed by three different parts, the input channels distribution, the main channel and the output channels distribution. The designed input channels distribution ensures a centered 3D focalized solvent stream along the main channel. The focalized solvent mixes with the surrounding water thanks to diffusion. Projected output channels take the central fluid out separately from the surrounding. Thus the device has two different outputs, one for the focalized fluid and another one for the waste fluid, which is the aqueous phase plus solvent. For a device concept proof, acetone and water were used as organic and aqueous phases, respectively. COMSOL Multiphysics was used for device microfluidics and chemical transport simulation. The extraction efficiency was the variable used as indicator for device performance validation. The flow rate ratio between phases, total flow rate, main channel length and focalized stream channel output hydraulic diameter (ODH) were used as process variables for simulation purposes. A factorial experimental planning was used in order to analyze the extraction efficiency taking into account process variables effects. From simulation results it was determined main channel length and ODH as the variables with stronger effect on extraction efficiency. Obtained simulated efficiencies were as high as 80.6%. Considering previous results observations a microfluidic device was fabricated with a main channel length of 21,4 mm and ODH of 214,63 μm. Gas chromatography was used to measured acetone concentration in outputs samples and from here the extraction efficiency. Experimental results were in agreement with simulation, returning extraction efficiencies in the order of 80.8% ± 2.2%.