We use a stochastic approach to show how Taylor dispersion is affected by kinetic processes of adsorption and desorption onto surfaces. A general theory is developed, from which we derive explicitly the dispersion coefficients of canonical examples such as Poiseuille flows in planar and cylindrical geometries, in both constant and sinusoidal velocity fields. These results open the way for the measurement of adsorption and desorption rate constants using stationary flows and molecular sorting using the stochastic resonance of the adsorption and desorption processes with the oscillatory velocity field.

• Received 7 June 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.86.036316