Theory of multi-species electrophoresis in the presence of surface conduction

Abstract

Electrophoresis techniques are characterized by concentration disturbances (or waves) propagating under the effect of an electric field. These techniques are usually performed in microchannels where surface conduction through the electric double layer (EDL) at channel walls is negligible compared with bulk conduction. However, when electrophoresis techniques are integrated in nanochannels, shallow microchannels or charged porous media, surface conduction can alter bulk electrophoretic transport. The existing mathematical models for electrophoretic transport in multi-species electrolytes do not account for the competing effects of surface and bulk conduction. We present a mathematical model of multi-species electrophoretic transport incorporating the effects of surface conduction on bulk ion-transport and provide a methodology to derive analytical solutions using the method of characteristics. Based on the analytical solutions, we elucidate the propagation of nonlinear concentration waves, such as shock and rarefaction waves, and provide the necessary and sufficient conditions for their existence. Our results show that the presence of surface conduction alters the propagation speed of nonlinear concentration waves and the composition of various zones. Importantly, we highlight the role of surface conduction in formation of additional shock and rarefaction waves which are otherwise not present in conventional electrophoresis.