LASP and Villermaux/Dushman protocols for mixing performance in microchannels: Effect of geometry on micromixing characterization and size reduction

• Mixing in reactive and nanodrug (LASP) process using three micromixers were studied.
• Three micromixers with various confluence angles of 45°, 90°, and 135° were employed.
• The microchannel with confluence angle of 135° worked better in both protocols.
• The mixing efficiency was related to the rate of energy dissipation inside the microchannels.
• Mixing quality proved by parallel reactions was also valid for a complicated LASP process.

The paper reports an experimental investigation on the effect of geometrical design of double jet impingement microchannels on mixing efficiency. Three arrangements of microchannel reactors (MCRs) were designed with 800 μm in diameter by 30 mm in length in various confluence angles of 45°, 90°, and 135°. Mixing performance of the microchannels was first evaluated via competitive parallel reactions of Villermaux/Dushman. The mixing quality was then described under various total liquid flow rates and initial acid concentration using segregation index (XS). In the second protocol, mixing performance was further investigated via complicated liquid anti-solvent precipitation (LASP) process for nanodrug production. Curcumin was utilized as a model of an insoluble drug in water and particle size and SEM imaging were then employed to characterize the produced nanosuspentions. The whole results show that despite considerable differences in nature of these two processes, the microchannel with confluence angle of 135° works more efficiently in both protocols, due to its higher mixing quality.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideExperimental setup for the iodide–iodate test reaction and nanodrug LASP process.