Calculation & simulation of electric-based fractionation methods for separation of airborne particles

• Main Author: Lee, Jun Hong
• Other Authors: Poenar Daniel Puiu
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2023
• Subjects: Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/167919
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The particulate matter present in the air can have significant negative impacts on human health, causing respiratory and cardiovascular problems. However, conventional methods of air filtration lack the ability to distinguish particle size, which can further exacerbate the issue. To address this problem, this report proposes the use of a Field-Flow Fractionation (FFF) technique with an electric field to separate particles based on their size. The FFF technique has shown great potential in separating particles in various applications, including biotechnology, environmental analysis, and materials science. By optimizing the FFF design, the feasibility of separating particles of different sizes can be investigated. As a result of this study, a microfluidic device capable of separating particles ranging from 500um to 1um has been designed and successfully achieved. The microfluidic device utilizes a combination of FFF and an electric field to selectively move particles of different sizes to specific regions, allowing for the efficient separation of particles based on their size. The design and optimization of the FFF with electric field and the microfluidic devices can potentially offer a novel approach to tackling air pollution by effectively separating particles of different sizes, leading to cleaner air, and improved public health.