(241e) Nanoparticle Precipitation by Drops Flow in a Microchannel Device and Its Simulation

Well controlled two-liquid phase flow in a T-junction micro-channel device has been realized, and BaSO4 nanoparticles with good dispersibility were produced through micro-drops flow. Consistent with the well know results, the drop size decreases with the decrease of the dispersed phase flow rate or the increase of the continuous phase flow rate. The drop size has a prominent effect on the particle size. The increase of drop size results in the decrease of the particle size. This is might due to particularity of the mass transfer and mixing conditions in the drop formation stage. To prove this conclusion, the drop formation process as well as the mass transfer in the micro-device was simulation with CFD method. The results were compared with our previous drops flow mass transfer experiments and showed good accordance. Based on this result, a particle precipitation model was introduced to calculate the particle size.

Key words: nanoparticle, micro-channel, two-phase flow, drops flow, CFD, simulation