Method for delivering a fine particle dispersion, and device for delivering a fine particle dispersion

• US 20050249034A1
• Filed: 11/19/2004
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Takagi, Seiichi, Ohta, Tetsuo
• Granted Patent: US 7,182,552 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 366/341
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 14/00 Chemical processes in general for reacting liquids with liquids; Apparatus specially adapted therefor B01J8/00, B01J19/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0093 Microreactors, e.g. miniaturised or microfabricated reactors laboratory containers with capillary fluid transport in microfabricated channels or chambers B01L3/5027
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00831 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00833 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0086 Dimensions of the flow channels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00889 Mixing

Abstract

Provided are a method for delivering a fine particle dispersion which makes it possible to flow the fine particle dispersion, as a stable flow, in a microflow-channel without sedimentation, being deposited on the bottom face of the inner surface of the channel or blocking up or clogging the channel, so as to give a high efficiency for recovering the fine particles; and a device for delivering a fine particle dispersion which can be used for a long period of time and which makes it possible to flow the fine particle dispersion as a stable flow in a microflow-channel without sedimentation, being deposited on the bottom face of the inner surfaces of the channel or blocking up or clogging the channel.

Claims

1. A method for delivering a fine particle dispersion comprising:

arranging a microflow-channel such that a discharge section is positioned below an inlet section in a gravitational direction;

setting the angle of the microflow-channel extending from the inlet section to the discharge section relative to the gravitational direction within the range of about 0 to about 45°

; and

introducing a fine particle dispersion into the inlet section and delivering the introduced fine particle dispersion to the discharge section in a laminar flow state;

wherein the fine particle dispersion comprises fine particles which are dispersed in a liquid medium, the fine particles having a volume-average particle size of about 0.1 to about 1000 μ

m and a specific gravity of the fine particles is about 1.01 to about 21.00 times that of the liquid medium.

2. The method for delivering a fine particle dispersion according to claim 1, wherein the fine particles are selected from resin fine particles, inorganic fine particles, metal fine particles and ceramic fine particles.

3. The method for delivering a fine particle dispersion according to claim 1, wherein the volume-average particle size of the fine particles is within the range from about 0.1 to about 500 μ

m.

4. The method for delivering a fine particle dispersion according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the long axial length of the fine particles to the short axial length of the fine particles is within the range of about 1:

1 to about 1;

50.

5. The method for delivering a fine particle dispersion according to claim 1, wherein the specific gravity of the fine particles is about 1.05 to about 12.00 times that of the liquid medium.

6. The method for delivering a fine particle dispersion according to claim 1, wherein the content of the fine particles in the fine particle dispersion is within the range of about 0.1 to about 60% by volume.

7. The method for delivering a fine particle dispersion according to claim 1, wherein the angle of the channel relative to the gravitational direction is within the range of about 0 to about 30°

.

8. The method for delivering a fine particle dispersion according to claim 1, wherein the angle of the channel relative to the gravitational direction is within the range of about 0 to about 15°

.

9. A method for delivering a fine particle dispersion comprising:

using a microflow-channel comprising an inlet section, a discharge section, and comprising at least one of a portion at which the cross-sectional diameter of the channel changes and a portion at which the cross-sectional shape of the channel changes;

arranging the microflow-channel such that the discharge section is positioned below the inlet section in the gravitational direction;

setting an angle of the wall surfaces of the channel extending from the inlet section to the discharge section relative to the gravitational direction is set within the range of about 0 to about 45°

; and

introducing the fine particle dispersion into the inlet section and delivering the introduced fine particle dispersion to the discharge section;

wherein the fine particle dispersion comprises fine particles which are dispersed in a liquid medium, the fine particles having a volume-average particle size of about 0.1 to about 1000 μ

m and a specific gravity of the fine particles is about 1.01 to about 21.00 times that of the liquid medium.

10. The method for delivering a fine particle dispersion according to claim 9, wherein the fine particles are selected from resin fine particles, inorganic fine particles, metal fine particles and ceramic fine particles.

11. The method for delivering a fine particle dispersion according to claim 9, wherein the specific gravity of the fine particles is about 1.05 to about 12.00 times that of the liquid medium.

12. The method for delivering a fine particle dispersion according to claim 9, wherein the angle of the wall surfaces of at least one of the portion where the cross-sectional diameter of the channel changes and the portion where the cross-sectional shape of the channel changes relative to the gravitational direction is within the range of about 0 to about 30°

.

13. The method for delivering a fine particle dispersion according to claim 9, wherein the angle of the wall surfaces of at least one of the portion where the cross-sectional diameter of the channel changes and the portion where the cross-sectional shape of the channel changes relative to the gravitational direction is within the range of about 0 to about 15°

.

14. The method for delivering a fine particle dispersion according to claim 9, wherein the volume-average particle size of the fine particles is within the range from about 0.1 to about 500 μ

m.

15. A device for delivering a fine particle dispersion comprising:

a microflow channel having an inlet section and a discharge section;

wherein the microflow-channel is arranged such that the discharge section is positioned below the inlet section in the gravitational direction;

and an angle of the channel extending from the inlet section to the discharge section to the gravitational direction is set within the range of about 0 to about 45°

;

wherein the fine particle dispersion comprises fine particles which are dispersed in a liquid medium, the fine particles having a volume-average particle size of about 0.1 to about 1000 μ

m and a specific gravity of the fine particles is about 1.01 to about 21.00 times that of the liquid medium, and the fine particle dispersion is delivered from an inlet section to a discharge section in a laminar flow state.

16. The device for delivering the fine particle dispersion according to claim 15, wherein the angle of the channel relative to the gravitational direction is within the range of about 0 to about 30°

.

17. The device for delivering the fine particle dispersion according to claim 15, wherein the angle of the channel relative to the gravitational direction is within the range of about 0 to about 15°

.

18. A device for delivering a fine particle dispersion comprising:

a microflow-channel having an inlet section;

a discharge section; and

at least one of a portion at which the cross-sectional diameter of the channel changes and a portion at which the cross-sectional shape of the channel changes,

wherein the microflow-channel is arranged such that the discharge section is positioned below the inlet section in the gravitational direction, and an angle of the wall surfaces of the channel extending from the inlet section to the discharge section relative to the gravitational direction is set within the range of about 0 to about 45°

,

wherein the fine particle dispersion comprises fine particles which are dispersed in a liquid, the fine particles having a volume-average particle size of about 0.1 to about 1000 mm and a specific gravity of the fine particles is about 1.01 to about 21.00 times that of the liquid medium, and the fine particle dispersion is delivered from an inlet section to a discharge section in a laminar flow state.

19. The device for delivering a fine particle dispersion according to claim 18, wherein the angle of the wall surfaces of at least one of the portion where the cross-sectional diameter of the channel changes and the portion where the cross-sectional shape of the channel changes relative to the gravitational direction is within the range of about 0 to about 30°

.

20. The device for delivering a fine particle dispersion according to claim 18, wherein the angle of the wall surface of at least one of the portion where the cross-sectional diameter of the channel changes and the portion where the cross-sectional shape of the channel changes relative to the gravitational direction is within the range from about 0 to about 15°

.