Production of monodisperse multivesiculated polyester particles with a T-junction microfluidic device

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

Joana Fidalgo (Author) FEUP; Ângela Dias (Author) FEUP; Adélio M. Mendes (Author) FEUP; Fernão D. Magalhães (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Chemical Engineering Journal

Vol. 233 No. November 2013

Pages: 323-330

ISSN: 1385-8947

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 12 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 12 Citations

INSPEC

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Chemical engineering

Associated Projects

PTDC/EQU-EQU/112151/2009 - Sistema microfluído para síntese de partículas vesiculadas

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-008-DYF

DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2013.08.003

Abstract (EN): Production of monodisperse multivesiculated particles (MVPs) of polyester reticulated with styrene was studied using a T-junction device for droplet generation. The process is based on a w/o/w double emulsion, which after crosslinking and drying yields solid particles filled with closely packed microvoids. The effect of continuous and dispersed phase flow rates, protective colloid concentration, and temperature on droplet size was studied. SEM analysis of internal morphology of particles produced using a one-step double emulsification process indicated that vesiculation was sparse and mostly located in the particle outer layer. This was attributed to the long time needed for water diffusion to fill-in the organic droplets. Much better results were obtained using a two-step emulsification process, in which water was pre-emulsified in the organic phase, and the final double emulsion was generated in the T-junction. Monodisperse particles with uniform vesiculation throughout the entire core were obtained in this way. The pre-emulsion was observed to be more stable when using triethanolamine instead of diethylenetriamine as w/o stabilization promoter, allowing for continuous production for longer runs.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8