Dr. Pedro E. ARCE
Professor and Chair
Department of Chemical Engineering
Tennessee Tech University
Cookeville, USA
ABSTRACT: Electrokinetics (EK) has been around from the time of the electrical phenomena discovered by Volta, Galvani, Arrhenius, Ostwald, Nerst and others. In today technology, EK has gained a forceful presence since applications on genomics, proteomics, micro-bioseparations, electrophoresis, fuel cells just to name a few are at the heart of many new technological advances. Therefore, there is a need for research in problems in areas that involve electrokinetics.When researchers are facing with new applications where EK principles are needed, the task is not trivial. As a matter of fact, the subject is complex and interdisciplinary since people from physical chemistry, hydrodynamics, colloidal and interfacial science, applied physics, and mathematics have contributed to the body of knowledge. In addition, the nomenclature and approaches are not consistent since different schools have used different denominations and, even similar concepts are sometimes called differently. In short, enormous activation energy is required in the learning process. A need for systematization has been recognized recently (see Saville, 2004).Based on the framework of the successful transport theory introduced by Bird, Stewart and Lightfoot (1960) and a definition of electrokinetics based on electrical engineering, the author will present a framework for the understanding of the subject efficiently; he will identify the word “Electrokinetic-Hydrodynamics” to highlight a family of applications where both EK and hydrodynamics play a substantial role. The author, by using applications relevant to micro-biosepations, soil cleaning and pulsed corona will illustrate how the framework becomes useful to current relevant problems. Furthermore, he will identify a number of analogies with non-electrical applications that helps a chemical engineering audience to quickly grasp concepts and put them to work in their research or profession if needed. The experience gained at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering (Tallahassee, Florida-USA), Tennessee Tech College of Engineering (Cookeville, Tennessee-USA), the College of Engineering at the Universidad Catolica del Norte (Antofagasta, Chile), and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (Terre-Haute, Indiana) will be used as useful and successful illustrative experiences.
