Magnetic-field assisted mixing of liquids using magnetic nanoparticles

Size and magnetic properties of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in fluids allow special remote control of fluid flow using appropriate externally applied magnetic fields, especially when submicronic mixing is critical, inter alia, for catalytic reactions, separation and drug delivery. This work explores MNPs as nanoscale devices to control mixing at microscale by submitting the system of interest to a rotating magnetic field (RMF). Magnetic nanoparticles are harnessed by RMF and converted into nanostirrers thereby generating MNP-pinned localized agitation in the liquid phase. Using this technique, self-diffusion coefficient of water in a static diffusion cell was intensified up to 200 folds. Also, axial dispersion of capillary Poiseuille flows under RMF underwent a reduction prompted by MNP-mediated intensification of lateral mixing relative to that in absence of magnetic field. Finally a multiphase flow case concerned gas–liquid mass transfer from oxygen Taylor bubbles to the liquid in capillaries where dilute MNP solutions led to measurable enhancement of kLa under RMF.