How to Create a Charge Separation to Migrate Ions in Solution

Howdy,

I am working in a research lab at The Ohio State University. I need to separate positively charged ions that are intramolecularly bound to negative counterions. I was hoping to use use static electricity to do this. Any suggestions on the power supply/control to do this?

Best,
Lucas

Don't know much about this, you don't mention the typical voltages used, but here's my pennies worth. The conductivity of the materials will play a part, a high impedance will not require much current, and the supply will hold up without regulation, if the resistance is low, then you may have a problem with maintaining the voltage. I assume that the separation rate is somehow related to voltage, assuming that voltage breakdown does not occur.
It seems to me that a high voltage transformer may do it, with a high voltage rectifier(s) on the output. If the transformer primary was driven by a variac (most elec eng labs will have this sort of device), then a variable power supply is possible. The high voltage side is probably limited to around 5-10Kv using this method. If you need a higher voltage, then a Cockroft-Walton generator on the transformer output would do. Keep your fingers clear, not likely to be lethal, but will still hurt. You will I assume need to be able to measure the voltage, DVM probes are available up to 10Kv, a custom voltage divider could also be made,
A few more details may be helpful,
cheers,
Richard

I have posted a bit more information in a short back and forth about the same topic on phyicsforums here:

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/how-to-...migrate-ions-in-solution.846140/#post-5306633

OK, so you have worked to 50VDC.
If you don't need a regulated supply, which you probably won't if all you need to do at this point is to establish that the system works, then what I have suggested would work, the idea would be OK for any voltage.
Anything above 50V should be treated as hazardous,
cheers,
Richard

What would you recommend in terms of safety?

Will I need to insulate the the beaker from the stir plate/ring stand?

Thank you for your time.

Regards,
Lucas

I assume that the beaker is pyrex or plastic, so will provide isolation between the contents and external metal surfaces. If the resistance of the solution is very high, then it is possible that a series resistor at the output of the voltage generator could be used as a crude voltage limiter, use it to make sure that the current can never reach more than a few mA without a very significant voltage drop. Any metal outside of the beaker should be securely grounded. You will need well insulated leads, and if you can do it, cover the whole system with an enclosure, perspex would do if you need to watch what is happening. Possibly safety interlock switches would help, particularly if someone not familiar with using the equipment works with you on the odd occasion. The important thing to remember is that it is when you get into a repetitive routine that you are most likely to do something silly, because you stop thinking about what you are doing. If you have an electrical engineering department at the university, seek advise from them, they will have someone responsible for electrical safety in their laboratories.
Best I can do without knowing a lot more,
cheers,
Richard.

Thank you very much! This was perfect.

Appreciatively,
Lucas