Droplet Formation by Confined Liquid Threads inside Microchannels.

Langmuir

Microfluidics and Nanotechnology, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Wageningen University, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands.

Published: September 2017

A confined liquid thread can form monodisperse droplets near the exit of a microchannel, provided the continuous phase is able to enter the microchannel. A general model that accurately predicts the droplet size including the breakup position inside the microchannel is presented and is verified with experimental observations; breakup occurs as long as the capillary number (Ca) of the liquid thread is below a critical capillary number (Ca); for cylindrical microchannels, it is derived that Ca = 1/16. Below Ca, the formed droplets at the exit of the microchannel have a diameter approximately two times the diameter of the liquid thread; around and above Ca, the liquid thread remains stable and the formed droplets grow infinitely large. The presented controlled droplet generation method is a useful tool for producing monodisperse emulsions and has great potential for the food and pharmaceutical industry.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5618148PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b01668DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

liquid thread
16
confined liquid
8
droplets exit
8
exit microchannel
8
capillary number
8
formed droplets
8
liquid
5
droplet formation
4
formation confined
4
liquid threads
4

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!