(451b) Preparation of Multi-Functional Microcapsules Using One Step Gelling Process Combined with Electrostatic Atomization

A new method for preparing multi-functional microcapsules based on a one-step gelling process combined with an electrostatic atomization technique is proposed. In the process, capsules with polymer shells were produced by dripping viscous solution, which contains a crosslinker agent, into a consolidation solution with agitation. Capsule shell was formed around viscous droplet immediately due to crosslinker agent which diffused out from the droplet. In this study, multi-functional capsules were prepared just by dispersing two kinds of functional particles in the consolidation solution. In this method, when the core droplets were dropped into the solution, since the polymer shells were formed with involving functional particles into their network, the functional particles were embedded in the capsules shells. In the experiment, sodium alginate and CaCl₂ were used as a polymer material for shell formation and crosslinker agent and TiO₂ and Fe₃O₄ were used as functional particles, respectively. Also, Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was used as a non-gelling polymer to modulate the viscosity and the density of the core solution to prevent deformation during the shell formation process. The experimental results showed that TiO₂-Fe₃O₄ functionalized capsules were obtained successfully using this method and the capsules exhibited photocatalytic activity and also magnetic property which enable much easier handling of the capsule. Furthermore, by combining the electrostatic atomization technique to the process, size reduction of the capsule was also tried. These results will be reported.