Breakup of nanoparticle clusters using Microfluidizer M110-P

•Comparative performance of Microfluizer M110-P for size reduction.•Effect of particle concentration on the deagglomeration of nanoparticle clusters.•Effect of continuous phase viscosity on the deagglomeration of nanoparticle clusters.•Mechanisms and kinetics of breakup of nanoparticle clusters. A c...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chemical engineering research & design 2018-04, Vol.132, p.902-912
Main Authors: Gavi, Emmanuela, Kubicki, Dominik, Padron, Gustavo A., Özcan-Taşkın, N. Gül
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agglomerates
Agglomeration
Breakup
Clusters
Deagglomeration
Dispersion of nanoparticles
Erosion
Fluid mechanics
Flux density
Fragmentation
Microfluidics
Microfluidizer M110-P
Microprocessors
Nanoemulsions
Nanoparticles
Particle size distribution
Rotors
Silica
Silicon dioxide
Stators
Viscosity
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:•Comparative performance of Microfluizer M110-P for size reduction.•Effect of particle concentration on the deagglomeration of nanoparticle clusters.•Effect of continuous phase viscosity on the deagglomeration of nanoparticle clusters.•Mechanisms and kinetics of breakup of nanoparticle clusters. A commercial design, bench scale microfluidic processor, Microfluidics M110-P, was used to study the deagglomeration of clusters of nanosized silica particles. Breakup kinetics, mechanisms and the smallest attainable size were determined over a range of particle concentrations of up to 17% wt. in water and liquid viscosities of up to 0.09Pas at 1% wt. particle concentration. The device was found to be effective in achieving complete breakup of agglomerates into submicron size aggregates of around 150nm over the range covered. A single pass was sufficient to achieve this at a low particle concentration and liquid viscosity. As the particle concentration or continuous phase viscosity was increased, either a higher number of passes or a higher power input (for the same number of passes) was required to obtain a dispersion with a size distribution in the submicron range. Breakup took place through erosion resulting in a dispersion of a given mean diameter range regardless of the operating condition. This is in line with results obtained using rotor-stators. Breakup kinetics compared on the basis of energy density indicated that whilst Microfluidizer M110-P and an in-line rotor-stator equipped with the emulsor screen are of similar performance at a viscosity of 0.01Pas, fines volume fraction achieved with the Microfluidizer was much higher at a viscosity of 0.09Pas.
ISSN:0263-8762
1744-3563
DOI:10.1016/j.cherd.2018.01.011