The Motion and Precipitation of Suspensoids in Divergent Electric Fields

The motion of suspensoid particles relative to that of the solvent resulting from polarization forces produced by an inhomogeneous electric field is defined as ``dielectrophoresis.'' It is analogous to the related phenomenon of electrophoresis, in which motion of suspensoid particles is produced by the action of an electrostatic field on the charged particles. From a consideration of theoretical calculations and from experimental observations it is concluded that the phenomena of ``dielectrophoresis'' and ``dielectro-precipitation'' can be observed under rather ideal conditions, though it is ordinarily often difficult to do so because of the presence of the more easily produced electrophoresis or ion-type migration of charged particles. The usefulness of dielectrophoresis (and/or electrophoresis) for removing suspended solid particles from polymer solutions during analysis is described.