Microfluidic H-filter Cell Modeling for Robust Purification of Gold Nanoparticles

Abstract

This paper describes a microfluidic H-filter cell model designed for the dialysis of gold nanoparticles without resort to a conventional membrane filter. It is part of a preliminary investigation of the implementation of a reusable automated dialysis system. The modeling was achieved using COMSOL Metaphysics Ⓒ software. It is based on the laminar flow and transport of diluted species interfaces to screen molecular separation trough diffusion. The targeted gold nanoparticles have a hydrodynamic diameter of $24 \pm 2$ nm and a diffusion coefficient of $2\times 10^{-11} \mathrm {m}^{2}.\mathrm {s}^{-1}$. The diffusion coefficient of impurities in the gold nanoparticles solution was estimated to $10^{-10}\mathrm {m}^{2}.\mathrm {s}^{-1}$. Obtained results of showed that the concentration of impurities in the solution of gold nanoparticles was reduced by 51% with one filtration while keeping 93% of gold nanoparticles.