Production of O/W emulsions using SPG membranes, ceramic α-aluminium oxide membranes, microfluidizer and a silicon microchannel plate - a comparative study
Citation
Vladisavljević, G. T., Lambrich, U., Nakajima, M., & Schubert, H. (2012). Production of O/W emulsions using SPG membranes, ceramic Α-aluminium oxide membranes, microfluidizer and a silicon microchannel plate - a comparative study. Figshare. https://hdl.handle.net/2134/10724
Keywords
- O/W emulsions
- SPG membranes
- ceramic α-Al2O3 membranes
- microfluidizer
- microchannel plate
- droplet size distribution
- dispersed phase flux
- transmembrane pressure
- wall shear stress
Brief
O/W emulsions can be produced with narrow droplet size distributions using microporous membranes (SPG and ceramic α-Al2O3), a silicon MC plate, and a microfluidizer.
Summary
This study compared different methods for producing oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions, including SPG membranes, ceramic α-Al2O3 membranes, a microfluidizer, and a silicon microchannel plate.
Key Findings:
- SPG membranes produced emulsions with a narrower droplet size distribution than the microfluidizer, but the microfluidizer could produce smaller droplets overall. The SPG membrane produced a very narrow droplet size distribution over a wide range of mean droplet sizes. The microfluidizer was more appropriate for producing emulsions with a mean droplet size of less than 0.2 µm.
- The dispersed phase flux, which impacts production rate, increased with larger membrane pore size and higher transmembrane pressure.
- Increasing the wall shear stress led to a decrease in mean droplet size for both α-Al2O3 and SPG membranes. This effect was greater at lower wall shear stress values and higher transmembrane/capillary pressure ratios.
- The study provides insights into the factors affecting droplet size, such as membrane pore size, transmembrane pressure, and wall shear stress, which are crucial for controlling emulsion properties.
The authors concluded that both SPG and α-Al2O3 membranes were effective for producing O/W emulsions with controlled droplet size distributions. They highlighted the advantages and limitations of each emulsification method, emphasizing the importance of selecting the appropriate technique based on the desired emulsion characteristics.