Electrokinetic-based concentrator device and method

An electrokinetic concentrating device comprising:

• i) a liquid source comprising a sample liquid comprising negatively charged biological particles;
• ii) an anode chamber comprising an anode and a buffer solution;
• iii) a cathode chamber comprising a cathode and a buffer solution;
• iv) a main chamber disposed between the anode chamber and the cathode chamber and separated therefrom, wherein the main chamber further comprises a first CEM on the anodic side of the main chamber and a second CEM on the cathodic side of the main chamber, wherein the second CEM is a multi-scale porous cation exchange membrane (a MP-CEM), and wherein the first CEM and the second CEM are configured in the main chamber such that the sample liquid flows across the first CEM and then across the second CEM;
• v) a microporous structure disposed on or in proximity to the second CEM between the first CEM and the second CEM in the main chamber, wherein the microporous structure is closer to the second CEM than it is to the first CEM, and wherein the microporous structure suppresses electroconvection;
• and
• vi) an inlet conduit in fluid communication with the liquid source and with the anodic side of the main chamber and configured to direct a flow of the sample liquid to the anodic side of the main chamber such that the sample liquid flows across the first CEM, then through the microporous structure, and then through the second CEM;
• wherein the anode, the cathode, and the second CEM are configured to induce an electric field and an ion-depleted region in the main chamber in which the negatively charged biological particles from the sample liquid are concentrated;
• wherein the MP-CEM comprises nanopores and micropores;
• wherein the microporous structure is disposed on or in proximity to the top side of the second CEM and stabilizes the ion-depleted region on the second CEM.