Microchannel apparatus and method of producing emulsions making use thereof
AssigneesJapan as represented by Director of National Food Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Bio-oriented Technology Research Advancement Institution
InventorsMitsutoshi Nakajima, Hiroshi Nabetani, Yuji Kikuchi, Christophe Largueze
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Abstract
A microchannel apparatus includes a plural partition walls 4 formed as extensions of plural microchannels 1 toward a continuous phase, and a flow path 5 is formed between adjacent ones of the partition walls 4. A dispersed phase pumped into a continuous phase via each microchannel 1 generates nearly perfect spheres in the course of passing through the microchannel and the flow path 5 in between the partition walls 4, thereby producing emulsions comprising fine and homogenous microspheres.
Claims14
In a microchannel apparatus having a case with supply holes for supplying a dispersed phase and a continuous phase into the case, a withdrawal hole for withdrawing an emulsion of the continuous and dispersed phases from the case, and a boundary section between a dispersed phase region and a continuous phase region within the case, the microchannel apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of microchannels having a predetermined width formed in the boundary section between the dispersed phase region and the continuous phase region in which the dispersed phase is pumped into the continuous phase via said microchannels to form microspheres;
- wherein
- said microchannels are formed between fine convex portions, and a partition wall is formed from at least one of said convex portions toward the continuous phase.
A microchannel apparatus comprising:
- a base which is accommodated in a case;
- a plate which is installed on a side of said base for forming a flow path beside said base;
- a plurality of microchannels having a predetermined width formed in a boundary section within said case between a dispersed phase region and a continuous phase region in which the dispersed phase is pumped into the continuous phase via said microchannels to form microspheres;
- a supply hole for the continuous phase, a supply hole for the dispersed phase, and a withdrawal hole for emulsions are formed in said case;
- a supply port for the continuous phase corresponding to said supply hole for the continuous phase, a withdrawal port for emulsions corresponding to said withdrawal hole for emulsions, and said microchannels are formed in said base;
- said microchannels are formed in a side of the base opening to said flow path;
- and
- said microchannels are formed between fine convex portions, and a partition wall is formed from at least one of said convex portions toward the continuous phase.
A method of producing emulsions, comprising step of:
- feeding a pressurized dispersed phase into a continuous phase via a plurality of microchannels separated by partition walls, said microchannels having a predetermined width;
- wherein
- the dispersed phase is pumped into the continuous phase via each of said microchannels after the dispersed phase generates nearly perfect spheres by making the dispersed phase pass between the partition walls.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.