Numerical model of electrokinetic flow for capillary electrophoresis

A numerical study is presented for the steady electrokinetic how in interse cting channels in a T-shaped configuration. The electric potential and spac e charge density distribution along the capillary are obtained numerically by solving the nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann equation for arbitrary electroki netic radius and arbitrary surface potential. The velocity and pressure pro files are obtained by solving a modified Navier-Stokes equation using a pri mitive variable algorithm. A systematic study of flow in T-shaped intersect ing channels showed that the hydrodynamic effect is an important factor tha t influences fluid leakage out of a channel where the electric potential is left floating. It was found that the flow in each channel can be controlle d by applying a potential at each reservoir connected to the end of a chann el. (C) 1999 Academic Press.