Preparation and splitting of emulsions

Draxler et al. describe the preparation and splitting of emulsions for emulsion liquid membrane systems in Chapter 7. An apparatus for the preparation of emulsions and various devices for the electrostatic splitting of emulsions are improved by investigation of the flow patterns using computational fluid field dynamics software. 

The preparation and splitting of emulsions are the key parameters in an emulsion liquid membrane process. A very stable emulsion which avoids any loss of emulsified droplets is a prior condition for the feasibility of the process. However, the more stable the emulsion, the more difficult to split it. So both steps are dependent on each other and have to be optimized, also with regard to cost optimization. In the present work, we try to calculate the flow pattern in the two steps using CFD (computational fluid dynamics) software in order to improve the design of the two steps. 

Newton, MA). Microfluidization based on patented technology in which a split feed stream flows into an interaction chamber at ultrahigh velocities and pressures (up to 1500 ft and 16,000 psi respectively). The two streams collide head-on and exit the chamber at a right angle to the collision. The force of the collision creates cavitation and shear forces to decrease the particle size. The feed stream was prepared in a manner similar to the coarse emulsion in which the orange oil was blended into the carrier solution with a whisk. The Microfluidizer was operated at a pressure of 11,000 psi and the sample was collected after one pass through the interaction chamber. 

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