Low energy methods of phase separation in colloidal dispersions and microemulsions

The majority of work on phase separation of colloidal systems has been concerned with the energy intensive approaches such as ultracentrifugation, solvent evaporation, changes of temperature and pressure etc. However, in modern nanotechnology it is desirable to minimize environmental impact in order to achieve separation and recovery of colloidal products. In this review recent research on phase separation methods, requiring relatively lower energy consumption are summarized. These include polymer-, solvent- and photo-induced approaches to phase separation.