Asymmetrical Microchannel Emulsification Plates for Production of Small-Sized Monodispersed Emulsion Droplets

Abstract

Monodispersed emulsion droplets have promising advantages in food, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries. Previous microchannel emulsification (MCE) plates having the capacity of generating small-sized droplets exhibited very low droplet productivity since these plates operate at a low dispersed-phase flow rate and with a relatively small number of microchannels. An innovative MCE plate with 176 176 circular asymmetric through-holes was manufactured, which is comprised of a series of discrete outlets on each microchannel line with an effective cross-sectional area of 1 cm2. The newly fabricated MCE plate is capable to produce monodispersed emulsion droplets with small Sauter mean diameters.

Keywords: Microchannel Emulsification (MCE), Asymmetrical Microchannels, Monodispersed Emulsion Droplets, Droplet Size Control, Microfluidic Emulsification Plates, Small Sauter Mean Diameter