Transient simulations of the electrophoretic motion of a cylindrical particle through a 90° corner

The trajectory of a cylindrical particle driven by electrophoresis was transiently simulated as the particle moves through a 90 degrees corner. A variety of system parameters were tested to determine their impact on the particle motion. The zeta potential, channel width, and particle aspect ratio were shown to have a minimal effect on the particle motion. Conversely, the initial vertical position of the particle and initial angle with respect to the horizontal had a significant impact on the particle motion. The presence of the 90 degrees corner acts to reduce the initial distribution of angles to the vertical of 90 degrees to less than 30 degrees, demonstrating the possibility of using a corner as a passive control element as part of a larger microfluidic system. However, the reduction in angle is limited to the area near the corner posing a limitation on this means of control.