Dispersion phenomena in microchannels: Transition from Taylor-Aris to convection-dominated regime

Abstract

This article addresses the qualitative and quantitative properties of solute transport and dispersion in microchannel of finite-length. As the Peclet number increases a transition from the Taylor-Aris to a new regime referred as convection dominated dispersion occurs, which is controlled by the velocity profile near the stagnation points at the solid walls. The properties characterizing dispersion dominated regime can be used for analytical purposes as a chromatographic-based velocimetry and for determining the eventual occurrence of slip at the solid walls of microchannels.