Fine channel device, fine particle producing method and solvent extraction method

Abstract

A fine channel device capable of producing fine particles in an industrial scale, hardening the fine particles immediately after the production and recovering the fine particles from a medium without collapsing the shape of the produced fine particles, a fine particle producing method using the fine channel device and a solvent extraction method using the fine channel, are presented. The fine channel device comprises a fine channel provided with an inlet port and an inlet channel which feed a dispersion phase, an inlet port and an inlet channel which feed a continuous phase, and an outlet channel and an outlet port which discharge fine particles produced by the dispersion phase and the continuous phase, wherein the inlet channel for feeding the dispersion phase and the inlet channel for feeding the continuous phase are joined at an arbitrary angle, and the two inlet channels are connected to the outlet channel at the arbitrary angle.

1 : A fine particle producing method for producing fine particles by using a fine channel device provided with an inlet port and an inlet channel which feed a dispersion phase, an inlet port and an inlet channel which feed a continuous phase, and an outlet channel and an outlet port which discharge fine particles produced by the dispersion phase and the continuous phase, characterized in that the dispersion phase is transformed into fine particles by being joined with the continuous phase.  
     
     
         2 : The fine particle producing method according to  claim 1 , wherein the particle size of the fine particles is controlled by changing the angle of the confluent portion at which the inlet channel for feeding the dispersion phase and the inlet channel for feeding the continuous phase join.  
     
     
         3 : The fine particle producing method according to  claim 1 , wherein the rate of feeding the dispersion phase is substantially equal to the rate of feeding the continuous phase.  
     
     
         4 : The fine particle producing method according to  claim 1 , wherein fluid containing the produced fine particles is discharged into an arbitrary direction from the portion at which the continuous phase and the dispersion phase join.  
     
     
         5 : The fine particle producing method according to  claim 1 , wherein fluid containing the produced fine particles is discharged into at least two arbitrary directions from the portion at which the continuous phase and the dispersion phase join.  
     
     
         6 : The fine particle producing method according to  claim 5 , wherein fluid containing the produced fine particles is again joined to another channel for recovery.  
     
     
         7 : The fine particle producing method according to  claim 1 , wherein the continuous phase and the dispersion phase are a kind of fluid having substantially no compatibility.  
     
     
         8 : The fine particle producing method according to  claim 1 , wherein the continuous phase and/or the dispersion phase is a laminar flow formed by at least two kinds of fluid.  
     
     
         9 : The fine particle producing method according to  claim 1 , wherein the continuous phase and/or the dispersion phase is fluid composed of a mixture of at least two kinds of fluid or emulsion.  
     
     
         10 : The fine particle producing method according to  claim 1 , wherein the continuous phase and/or the dispersion phase contains powder.  
     
     
         11 : The fine particle producing method according to  claim 1 , wherein the dispersion phase is a medium containing a gel-producing material.  
     
     
         12 : The fine particle producing method according to  claim 1 , wherein the continuous phase is a medium containing a dispersant for producing gel.  
     
     
         13 : The fine particle producing method according to  claim 1 , wherein polyvinyl alcohol is used as a dispersant for producing gel.  
     
     
         14 : The fine particle producing method according to  claim 1 , wherein the fine particles are fine droplets.  
     
     
         15 : The fine particle producing method according to  claim 1 , wherein the fine particles are hardened in the fine channel and/or out the fine channel.  
     
     
         16 : The fine particle producing method according to  claim 15 , wherein the fine particles are hardened by the irradiation of light.  
     
     
         17 : The fine particle producing method according to  claim 16 , wherein the fine particles are hardened by the irradiation of UV light.  
     
     
         18 : The fine particle producing method according to  claim 15 , wherein the fine particles are hardened by the application of heat.  
     
     
         19 : A fine particle producing method for producing fine particles by using a fine channel device provided with an inlet port and an inlet channel which feed a dispersion phase as a medium containing a gel-producing material, an inlet port and an inlet channel which feed a continuous phase as a medium containing a gel-producing dispersant, and an outlet channel and an outlet port which discharge fine particles produced by the dispersion phase and the continuous phase, characterized in that the dispersion phase is transformed into fine particles by being joined with the continuous phase, the particle size of the fine particles is controlled by changing the angle of the confluent portion at which the inlet channel for feeding the dispersion phase is joined with the inlet channel for feeding the continuous phase, and the fine particles are hardened in the fine channel and/or out the fine channel by the irradiation of light and/or heating.  
     
     
         20 : The fine particle producing method according to  claim 1 , wherein the fine particles are microcapsules.  
     
     
         21 : The fine particle producing method according to  claim 1 , wherein the fine particles are in a form of gel.