Solute transport under oscillating electro-osmotic flow in a closed-ended cylindrical pore

Mass transfer in a closed-ended, cylindrical tube, under an oscillatory electro-osmotic flow, is theoretically studied. Analytical solutions are found for the distribution of the electric potential, the velocity field and the concentration field. The time-averaged mass flux is then calculated in terms of an effective diffusion coefficient, or dispersion coefficient, akin to the classical Taylor–Aris dispersion. Calculations suggest that enhancement of mass transfer in dead-end pores, modelled as a closed-ended cylindrical tube, should be possible using an AC electric field under acceptable operating conditions, allowing, for example, up to a threefold enhancement in pores with a radius of 1 μ m.