Microfluidic devices, microfluidic systems, and methods for assessing interaction between an oil composition and a solvent

A microfluidic device comprising:

• a microfluidic substrate comprising
• a main inlet port, a main outlet port, and a main microfluidic channel extending between and in fluid communication with the main inlet port and the main outlet port;
• a solvent inlet port, a solvent outlet port, and a solvent bypass channel extending between and in fluid communication with the solvent inlet port and the solvent outlet port;
• a solvent feed channel extending between and in fluid communication with the solvent bypass channel and the main microfluidic channel, wherein the solvent feed channel is joined to the main microfluidic channel at a first junction,
• an oil inlet port, an oil outlet port, and an oil bypass channel extending between and in fluid communication with the oil inlet port and the oil outlet port;
• and
• an oil feed channel extending between and in fluid communication with the oil bypass channel and the main microfluidic channel, wherein the oil feed channel is joined to the main microfluidic channel at a second junction, wherein the second junction is spaced from the first junction.

A microfluidic system comprising:

• a microfluidic device comprising a microfluidic substrate, the microfluidic substrate comprising a main microfluidic channel;
• an isolation fluid injection sub-system housing an isolation fluid and configured to force the isolation fluid into the main microfluidic channel;
• a solvent injection sub-system housing a solvent and configured to force the solvent into the main microfluidic channel concurrently with the isolation fluid to form at least a first slug of the solvent in the isolation fluid and within main microfluidic channel;
• an oil composition injection sub-system housing the oil composition and configured to force the oil composition into the main microfluidic channel concurrently with the isolation fluid and the solvent, to form at least a first compound slug in the isolation fluid and within the main microfluidic channel, wherein the first compound slug comprises at least a first slug of the oil composition in contact with the first slug of the solvent;
• a pressure regulation sub-system for regulating pressure in the main microfluidic channel;
• a manifold providing fluid communication between the microfluidic device and the solvent injection sub-system, the isolation fluid injection sub-system, the oil composition injection sub-system, and the pressure regulation sub-system;
• a temperature regulation sub-system for regulating a temperature within the main microfluidic channel;
• and
• an optical investigation sub-system for optically accessing at least a portion of the main microfluidic channel for assessment of at least the first compound slug.