Two-phase electroextraction from moving phases

A process for an electroextraction of organic compounds from a moving fluid donor phase into an acceptor phase, the process comprising:

• providing an electrically conductive donor phase moving at a first flow velocity and in electrically conductive contact with a first electrode;
• providing an electrically conductive acceptor phase in direct contact and immiscible with the donor phase, in electrically conductive contact with a second electrode;
• providing a supporting or confining phase guide pattern having a sharp edge to keep a defined interface between the donor phase and the acceptor phase, wherein the sharp edge is shaped such that advancement of a fluid over the sharp edge requires a change of a principal radii of a fluid-fluid meniscus, leading to a higher pressure drop over the fluid-fluid meniscus thus representing a pressure barrier;
• and
• applying an electrical field between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the electrical field has a current between 0.01 μA and 100 μA for an interface length of 8 mm;
• wherein one of the donor phase and the acceptor phase is an organic phase and an other of the donor phase and the acceptor phase is an aqueous phase;
• and
• wherein the acceptor phase is moving at a second flow velocity which is lower than the first flow velocity.