Process and apparatus for producing emulsion and microcapsules
AssigneeJapan Science and Technology Corporation
InventorsToshiro Higuchi, Toru Torii, Takashi Nishisako, Tomohiro Taniguchi
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Abstract
A process and apparatus for rapidly producing an emulsion and microcapsules in a simple manner is provided wherein a dispersion phase is ejected from a dispersion phase-feeding port toward a continuous phase flowing in a microchannel in such a manner that flows of the dispersion phase and the continuous phase cross each other, thereby obtaining microdroplets, formed by the shear force of the continuous phase, having a size smaller than the width of the channel for feeding the dispersion phase.
Claims8
A process for producing an emulsion, comprising a step of ejecting a dispersion phase toward the junction of flows of continuous phases flowing in microchannels extending in the directions opposite to each other, in such a manner that the flow of the dispersion phase joins the flows of the continuous phases, to obtain microdroplets.
A process for producing microcapsules, comprising a step of feeding a content-forming phase to first and second continuous phases flowing in first and second microchannels extending in the directions opposite to each other, in such a manner that the flow of the content-forming phase joins the flows of the first and second continuous phases, to form microdroplets for forming contents;
- and then feeding a shell-forming phase to third and fourth continuous phases flowing in third and fourth microchannels in such a manner that the flow of the shell-forming phase joins the junction of flows of the third and fourth continuous phases, to form microdroplets for forming shells to obtain microcapsules.
An apparatus for producing an emulsion, comprising means for forming continuous phases flowing in microchannels extending in the directions opposite to each other and means for ejecting a dispersion phase toward the junction of flows of the continuous phases, in such a manner that the flow of the dispersion phase joins the flows of the continuous phases, to obtain microdroplets.
An apparatus for producing microcapsules, comprising means for feeding a content-forming phase to first and second continuous phases flowing in first and second microchannels extending in the directions opposite to each other, in such a manner that the flow of the content-forming phase joins the flows of the first and second continuous phases, to form microdroplets for forming contents;
- and then feeding a shell-forming phase to third and fourth continuous phases flowing in third and fourth microchannels, in such a manner that the flow of the shell-forming phase joins the junction of flows of the third and fourth continuous phases, to form coatings for forming shells to obtain microcapsules.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.