A review on emulsification via microfluidic processes

2020, Volume 14, Issue 3

Abstract

Keywords

Related Research

Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering >> 2020, Volume 14, Issue 3 doi: 10.1007/s11705-019-1894-0

A review on emulsification via microfluidic processes

. Key Laboratory of Condition Monitoring and Control for Power Plant Equipment (Ministry of Education), North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China.. Institute for Micro Process Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen 76344, Germany.. Institute of Microstructure Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen 76344, Germany

Accepted: 2020-02-27 Available online: 2020-02-27

HTML14 PDF 28 Collect 0

Next Previous

Abstract

Emulsion is a disperse system with two immiscible liquids, which demonstrates wide applications in diverse industries. Emulsification technology has advanced well with the development of microfluidic process. Compared to conventional methods, the microfluidics-based process can produce controllable droplet size and distribution. The droplet formation or breakup is the result of combined effects resulting from interfacial tension, viscous, and inertial forces as well as the forces generated due to hydrodynamic pressure and external stimuli. In the current study, typical microfluidic systems, including microchannel array, T-shape, flow-focusing, co-flowing, and membrane systems, are reviewed and the corresponding mechanisms, flow regimes, and main parameters are compared and summarized.

Keywords

microfluidics ; emulsification ; capillary number ; droplet breakup

Related Research