Emulsification using tubular metallic membranes

• Tubular metallic membranes were used to prepare emulsions at high production rate.
• A comparative study of flat and tubular membranes behaviour was carried out.
• Tubular membranes produced emulsions with smaller droplet size than flat membranes.
• Droplet formation regime by jetting was promoted at very high shear stresses.

Tubular metallic membranes with pore diameters of 5 and 10 μm have been used in a cross-flow unit to prepare monodisperse oil-in-water emulsions (O/W) with span values as low as 0.67, significantly lower than for emulsions prepared with a rotor–stator homogenizer. The influence of typical operating parameters (continuous phase flow rate and transmembrane pressure) on droplet size distribution was studied. The smallest droplets were obtained at low transmembrane pressures and high continuous phase flow rates. The droplet production with tubular metallic membranes was higher than with other types of tubular membranes, such as SPG or ceramic.Experimental results were compared with those obtained in a stirred tank unit operating under similar conditions and using flat metallic membranes with the same pore diameter. Droplet size prediction models based on simple force balances were applied to compare theoretical and experimental droplet diameters. The droplet formation regime (dripping, jetting) was also studied for both types of membranes.

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