Process and apparatus for producing emulsion and microcapsules

• US 20060079584A1
• Filed: 11/28/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Japan Science And Technology Corpration
• Original Assignee: Japan Science And Technology Corpration
• Inventors: Taniguchi, Tomohiro, Nishisako, Takashi, Torii, Toru, Higuchi, Toshiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,772,287 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 516/73
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2215/0431 Numerical size values, e.g. diameter of a hole or conduit, area, volume, length, width, or ratios thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/41 Emulsifying
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/4105 Methods of emulsifying
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/4143 Microemulsions
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/4144 Multiple emulsions, in particular double emulsions, e.g. water in oil in water; Three-phase emulsions
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/313 wherein additional components are introduced in the centre of the conduit
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/314 wherein additional components are introduced at the circumference of the conduit
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/31422 with a plurality of perforations in the axial direction only
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/3011 using a sheathing stream of a fluid surrounding a central stream of a different fluid, e.g. for reducing the cross-section of the central stream or to produce droplets from the central stream
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/3031 using electro-hydrodynamic [EHD] or electro-kinetic [EKI] phenomena to mix or move the fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/71 Feed mechanisms with proportioning B01F35/80
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/712 for feeding fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/71791 using ink jet heads or cartridges, e.g. of the thermal bubble jet or piezoelectric type
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/71805 using valves, gates, orifices or openings
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 13/04 by physical processes, e.g. drying, spraying
• 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 2219/00783 Laminate assemblies, i.e. the reactor comprising a stack of plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00853 Employing electrode arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 366/04 Micromixers: with application of energy to influence mixing/agitation, e.g. magnetic, electrical, e-m radiation, particulate radiation, or ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 516/924 : Significant dispersive or manipulative operation or step in making or stabilizing colloid system
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 516/927 : in situ formation of a colloid system making or stabilizing agent which chemical reaction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0329 : Mixing of plural fluids of diverse characteristics or conditions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2984 : Microcapsule with fluid core [includes liposome]

Abstract

A process and apparatus for rapidly producing an emulsion and microcapsules in a simple manner is provided wherein a dispersion phase is ejected from a dispersion phase-feeding port toward a continuous phase flowing in a microchannel in such a manner that flows of the dispersion phase and the continuous phase cross each other, thereby obtaining microdroplets, formed by the shear force of the continuous phase, having a size smaller than the width of the channel for feeding the dispersion phase.

Claims

1. a process for producing an emulsion, comprising a step of ejecting a dispersion phase toward the junction of flows of continuous phases flowing in microchannels extending in the directions opposite to each other, in such a manner that the flow of the dispersion phase joins the flows of the continuous phases, to obtain microdroplets.

2. A process for producing microcapsules, comprising a step of feeding a content-forming phase to first and second continuous phases flowing in first and second microchannels extending in the directions opposite to each other, in such a manner that the flow of the content-forming phase joins the flows of the first and second continuous phases, to form microdroplets for forming contents;

and then feeding a shell-forming phase to third and fourth continuous phases flowing in third and fourth microchannels in such a manner that the flow of the shell-forming phase joins the junction of flows of the third and fourth continuous phases, to form microdroplets for forming shells to obtain microcapsules.

3. An apparatus for producing an emulsion, comprising means for forming continuous phases flowing in microchannels extending in the directions opposite to each other and means for ejecting a dispersion phase toward the junction of flows of the continuous phases, in such a manner that the flow of the dispersion phase joins the flows of the continuous phases, to obtain microdroplets.

5. The apparatus for producing an emulsion according to claim 3, wherein the means for feeding a plurality of the dispersion phases each include a substrate, a driven plate, an elastic member disposed between the substrate and the driven plate, and an actuator for driving the driven plate and thereby a plurality of the dispersion phases are fed at the same time.

7. The apparatus for producing an emulsion according to claim 3 further comprising films, disposed on portions of inner wall surfaces of the microchannel in which the continuous phase flows and the channel for feeding the dispersion phase, for readily forming the microdroplets, wherein the portions include the junction of the flows of the continuous phase and the dispersion phase and the vicinity of the junction.

4. An apparatus for producing microcapsules, comprising means for feeding a content-forming phase to first and second continuous phases flowing in first and second microchannels extending in the directions opposite to each other, in such a manner that the flow of the content-forming phase joins the flows of the first and second continuous phases, to form microdroplets for forming contents;

and then feeding a shell-forming phase to third and fourth continuous phases flowing in third and fourth microchannels, in such a manner that the flow of the shell-forming phase joins the junction of flows of the third and fourth continuous phases, to form coatings for forming shells to obtain microcapsules.

6. The apparatus for producing microcapsules according to claim 4, wherein the means for feeding a plurality of shell-forming phases and content-forming phases each include a substrate, a driven plate, an elastic member disposed between the substrate and the driven plate, and an actuator for driving the driven plate, and thereby a plurality of the shell-forming phases and content-forming phases are fed at the same time.

8. The apparatus for producing microcapsules according to claim 4 further comprising films, disposed on portions of inner wall surfaces of the microchannel in which the continuous phase flows and the channel for feeding the dispersion phase, for readily forming the microdroplets, wherein the portions include the junction of the flows of the continuous phase and the dispersion phase and the vicinity of the junction.