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Project
SBO Project: Scalable Bulk Acoustic Wave Solutions to Separate Micro- and Nanoparticles in Flow (AWESOME) (FWOSBO44)
The field of acoustofluidics (integration of acoustics in microfluidics) is a
fast growing research field addressing challenges in different fields such
as biology, medicine, chemistry, engineering, and physics. In particular,
acoustofluidic separation of microparticles in fluids has proven to be a
powerful tool due to the label-free, biocompatible, and contact-free
nature of the technology. Although this technology is widely supported,
it has only penetrated in industry for a few niche applications involving
large (bio)particles and low throughput. To make this technology ready
for more widespread application, a separation resolution of less than a
few μm in combination with scalable throughputs in the order of tenshundreds
of mL is required.
The objectives of the project are threefold. First, the size limit at which
particles can be handled and separated will be reduced to 80 nm. New
approaches will be used to induce acoustic forces that allow the
manipulation of such smaller particles. A critical aspect in this
development is that the acoustic resonance is maximized, for which
accurate temperature control is needed. Next, innovative approaches
will be developed to scale the technology, with a project target of 500
mL/min for a single microfluidic substrate. This process should be stable
enough such that it can operate for at least 2 hours in a wide range of
solid loads. Sensors will be included in the microfluidic chip which are
capable of monitoring the temperature and local solid load, allowing for
steering of the separation process. The same sensors can be used in the
final stage to even check the quality, purity or yield of the separation.
Finally, two demonstrations will be provided with streams relevant for
the potential end users, one in a biomedical field, the other in a more
industrial setting..
fast growing research field addressing challenges in different fields such
as biology, medicine, chemistry, engineering, and physics. In particular,
acoustofluidic separation of microparticles in fluids has proven to be a
powerful tool due to the label-free, biocompatible, and contact-free
nature of the technology. Although this technology is widely supported,
it has only penetrated in industry for a few niche applications involving
large (bio)particles and low throughput. To make this technology ready
for more widespread application, a separation resolution of less than a
few μm in combination with scalable throughputs in the order of tenshundreds
of mL is required.
The objectives of the project are threefold. First, the size limit at which
particles can be handled and separated will be reduced to 80 nm. New
approaches will be used to induce acoustic forces that allow the
manipulation of such smaller particles. A critical aspect in this
development is that the acoustic resonance is maximized, for which
accurate temperature control is needed. Next, innovative approaches
will be developed to scale the technology, with a project target of 500
mL/min for a single microfluidic substrate. This process should be stable
enough such that it can operate for at least 2 hours in a wide range of
solid loads. Sensors will be included in the microfluidic chip which are
capable of monitoring the temperature and local solid load, allowing for
steering of the separation process. The same sensors can be used in the
final stage to even check the quality, purity or yield of the separation.
Finally, two demonstrations will be provided with streams relevant for
the potential end users, one in a biomedical field, the other in a more
industrial setting..
Date:1 Oct 2022 → Today
Keywords:nanomaterials, sensors biosensors, separation technologies
Disciplines:Nanomaterials
Project type:Collaboration project