Membrane Emulsification Using Oscillatory Motion

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Emulsions play important role in many industries including food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and fuel applications, and demand is growing for novel micro-particle materials and core-shell microcapsules with tuned properties. This has further increased with emergence of particle-stabilized emulsions using benign nanoparticles that offer virtually infinite stability and functional benefits without the perceived health and environment drawbacks of molecular surfactants. Membrane emulsification (ME) is a new technique that received recent attention since it overcomes problems encountered in conventional high pressure or ultrasound emulsification such as low energy efficiency, sever abrasion, poor drop size control, and high temperature and shear rise that damage delicate products. Its main drawback however, is the relatively low dispersed phase concentration caused by high continuous phase flow needed for drop detachment. This, in many cases, cannot be mitigated by recycling since the latter can potentially damage previously formed emulsion droplets. This research proposal aims at developing novel energy efficient emulsification technology based on combining oscillatory motion with optimized surface properties to achieve synergy of premixing and oscillatory ME in a hybrid oscillatory membrane emulsification (HOME) system. Another objective is to demonstrate the potential benefits of the developed design for production of bioactive emulsions and in particle stabilized emulsification using nanoparticles. The research will include theoretical and experimental investigations of the effect of oscillation and surface properties on flow patterns, transfer mechanisms, and emulsion properties and stability. It will also include optimization of operating and design parameters using commercial membranes as well as micro-machined surfaces with special hydrophilic/ hydrophobic coating. Based on published literature, this research may be considered among the first in Canada in ME thus it provides technical foundations and HQP needed to advance the nation among the upfront leaders in this field.