Acoustically enhanced porous media enables improvements in filtration performance through ultrasonically induced attraction in standing acoustic pressure waves.

Enhancing micro/nanoparticle filtration performance is a critical challenge in many fields of fundamental research and practical industrial applications. Nanoparticle separation becomes increasingly difficult within a range where the mechanisms of diffusion, interception, and impaction, don’t exhibit high capture efficiencies. Seed particle clusters leveraging acoustic interaction forces have demonstrated the ability to separate nanoparticles from fluids effectively. However, the introduction of foreign materials poses its own challenges, such as contamination and fouling. Using similar principles, we study acoustically enhanced fiber filter media to improve the capture efficiencies of nanoparticles. We developed a 2D Multiphysics COMSOL model and conducted parametric studies to determine the optimal parameters, configurations, and relationships to maximize acoustic effects. Focusing on the acoustic interaction force and acoustic streaming, we showed that there were significant improvements in capture efficiencies within different particle sizes. This work has broad applications in the field of nanoparticle separation, ranging from air purification, water treatment, biohazard detection, bio-nanoparticle enrichment, and microfluidics.