(292e) An Inline Phase Separator Using the T-Connector with a Modified Needle for Microfluidic Mass Transfer Studies

A phase separator made from a T-connector and a modified needle was developed for implementing rapid inline liquid-liquid phase separation during microfluidic extraction studies. The phase separator was based on the selective wettability of fluids in microchannels. All components of the phase separator were commercially available and easy to assemble, connect, clean, and repair in the laboratory. Classical extraction systems with interfacial tensions ranging from 49.6 to 1.68 mN/m worked well in this phase separator over flow rates ranging from 150 and 1500 μL/min. The advantage of the new phase separator was the needle could promote droplet coalescence at the pinpoint. Microfluidic mass transfer experiments with four different extraction systems were investigated by the T-connector-based phase separator. Contrast to the gravity phase separator, the novel separator can provide more accurate mass transfer data.