Mitchell, M.
, Majkrzak, C.
and Hoogerheide, D.
(2024),
Maximally efficient exchange in thin flow cells using density gradients, Nature Methods
(Accessed October 7, 2024)
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Maximally efficient exchange in thin flow cells using density gradients
Published
Author(s)
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Abstract
Flow cells are ubiquitous in laboratories and automated instrumentation and are crucial for ease of sample preparation, analyte addition, and buffer exchange. Often, the assumption that the fluids have exchanged completely in a flow cell is crucial to data interpretation. We describe the buoyancy effects on exchange of fluids with differing densities or viscosities in thin, circular flow cells. Depending on the direction of flow, fluid exchange varies from extremely efficient to drastically incomplete even after a large excess of exchange volume. Numerical solutions to the Navier-Stokes and Cahn-Hilliard equations match well to experimental observations, leading to quantitative predictions of the conditions under which buoyancy forces in thin flow cells are significant. We introduce a novel method for exchanging fluid cells by accounting for and utilizing buoyancy and viscosity effects that can be essential to obtain accurate results from measurements performed within closed-volume fluid environments.Citation
Nature Methods
Pub Type
Journals
Keywords
neutron reflectometry, automated liquid handling, fluid flow, flow cell
Citation
Issues
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Created August 19, 2024, Updated September 16, 2024