Continuous rotary membrane emulsification for the production of sustainable Pickering emulsions. (15th February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ekanem, Ekanem E.; Wilson, Amy; Scott, Janet L.; Edler, Karen J.; Mattia, Davide
• Is Part Of: Chemical engineering science. Volume 249(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-02-15
• Subjects: Rotary membrane emulsification -- Monodisperse emulsion -- Pickering emulsions -- 3-D printing -- Stainless steel membrane -- Sustainability; ANOVA Analysis of Variation -- CCF Central Composite Face design -- CP continuous phase -- DdDOE experimental diameter from developed DOE model -- DdK theoretical droplet diameter magnitudes estimated from a force balance model -- DoE Design of Experiment -- IFT interfacial tension -- ME Membrane emulsification -- MLR Multiple Linear Regression -- n rotational speed -- OCNF oxidised cellulose nanofibrils -- Q2 prediction precision -- RME rotary membrane emulsification -- R2 model fit -- Ta Taylor number -- XME cross-flow membrane emulsification -- xw OCNF concentration -- Re Reynolds number -- R1 radius of membrane tube -- R2 radius of stationary cylinder -- QCP continuous phase flowrate -- ρ density -- η viscosity of continuous phase -- ω angular velocity; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; Génie chimique -- Périodiques; Chemical engineering; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 660
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2021.117328
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-2509

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Continuous rotary membrane emulsification for generation of monodisperse emulsions. The system includes a stainless-steel tubular membrane and a 3-D printed flow cell. Continuous phase flowrate effectively decoupled from shear generation. New approach to increase productivity of continuous membrane emulsification. Abstract: A continuous rotary membrane emulsification (cRME) system, allowing the decoupling of droplet generation from continuous phase (CP) flowrate, is presented here for the first time. The decoupling results in higher productivity and greater control compared to traditional crossflow and rotational membrane emulsification processes. A design of experiment (DoE) investigated the influence on droplet formation of CP flow, membrane rotational speed and emulsion composition, using a Pickering emulsion consisting of 1 wt% keratin solution and varying concentrations of oxidised cellulose nanofibrils. Experiments showed that CP flowrate had a negligible effect on droplet diameters in a wide range (between 78 and 241 µm), with uniformity index as low as 0.14 for optimal membrane rotational speeds and different oxidised cellulose nanofibrils (OCNF) concentration. cRME has the potential to overcome low emulsion concentration limitations of continuous membrane emulsification systems, paving the way to significantly increase the productivity and application in personal care, food and drugs industries.