Membrane emulsification advantages

The distinguishing feature of membrane emulsification technique is that droplet size is controlled primarily by the choice of the membrane, its microchannel structure and few process parameters, which can be used to tune droplets and emulsion properties. Comparing to the conventional emulsification processes, the membrane emulsification permits a better control of droplet-size distribution to be obtained, low energy, and materials consumption, modular and easy scale-up. Nevertheless, productivity (m3/day) is much lower, and therefore the challenge in the future is the development of new membranes and modules to keep the known advantages and maximize productivity. 

A peculiar advantage of membrane emulsification is that both droplet sizes and size distributions may be carefully and easily controlled by choosing suitable membranes and focusing on some fundamental process parameters reported below. Membrane emulsification is also an efficient process, since the energy-density requirement (energy input per cubic meter of emulsion produced, in the range of 104-106 J m-3) is low with respect to other conventional mechanical methods (106-108 J m-3), especially for emulsions with droplet diameters smaller than 1 (4m [1]. The lower energy density requirement also improves the quality and functionality... 

Each type of device has specific advantages and disadvantages. The batch emulsification is suitable for laboratory-scale investigations. The construction of the device is simple and handling during emulsification as well as for cleaning. Crossflow membrane emulsification is used when it is important that a proper adjustment of all process parameters and larger amounts of emulsion have to be produced. 

In this context, the Morinaga Milk Industry (Japan) developed and commercialized a very low fat spread using membrane emulsification technology [59, 60]. The advantages in the production of low-fat spreads made the process one of the first... 

Membrane emulsification is a relatively new technique with specific advantages (simplicity, potentially less energy demands, less surfactant, and narrow droplet-size distributions) compared to conventional emulsification techniques [102]. Depending on the membrane hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity and the composition of the two liquid phases, O/W, W/0, or MW emulsions may be produced. Most often used, O/W membrane emulsification consists of the pressurization of oil (dispersed phase) through membrane pores at high pressure (Figure 6.26). The oil jet flows formed in the circulating continuous phase are... 

Membrane emulsification have several advantages compared with conventional emulsification processes, such as the low energy input required to produce emulsions [8] and the possibility to get emulsions with extremely narrow droplet size distributions [9]. However, there are also some problems related to membrane emulsification, like membrane fouling and low product output. 

Membrane and microporous emulsification processes are associated with specific advantages and limitations that can be traced back to the nature of droplet formation taking place in the process. Since single droplets are formed at the exit of a... 

---