Microchannel devices for the coalescence of dispersed droplets produced for use in rapid extraction processes [An article from: Chemical Engineering Journal]

This digital document is a journal article from Chemical Engineering Journal, published by Elsevier in 2004. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
A new microchannel device has been proposed for the assisted coalescence of dispersed droplets produced by a micromixer for use in rapid extraction. The microchannel was of rectangular cross-section and easily fabricated by placing a thin aluminum foil frame from which the shape of the microchannel was cut out between two flat plates made of glass and/or PTFE. The depth of the microchannel was adjusted by the thickness of the foil. The proposed device has several advantages such as a flexible and easily adaptable design, easy maintenance, and cheap setup without the requirement of microfabrication. The coalescence of the dispersed droplets occurred by passing through the microchannel, to attain liquid-liquid separation. Various liquid-liquid dispersion systems were examined and the coalescence mechanism of the dispersed droplets was also considered. Within the microchannel, the dispersion droplets are distorted, the liquid-liquid interface destabilizes, and a velocity differential between the continuous and dispersed phases brought about. This proposed device will aid development of an efficient system for rapid liquid-liquid separation, which will allow extraction using a micromixing process to become a viable option in the near future.