Process for producing colorant dispersoid

Abstract

A process for producing a colorant comprises the step of mixing a coloring material and a block copolymer in a flow channel of a microreactor to obtain a dispersion comprising a colorant as a dispersoid. The flow-mixing channel may have a cross-sectional area of not less than 0.5 mm 2 , and the ratio of the total cross-sectional areas of flow channels connected with the flow-mixing channel to the cross-sectional area of the flow-mixing channel ranges from 0.01 to 0.1, and a rectangular cross-section having a ratio of a flow channel depth to a flow channel width of not less than 0.5.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . A process for producing a composition having a coloring material dispersed with a block copolymer in a solvent, the process comprising the steps of:
 preparing a first fluid containing the coloring material as a substance in solution, and a second fluid functioning as a poor solvent for the coloring material;   introducing the first fluid from a first flow channel connected to a mixing channel of a microreactor;   introducing the second fluid from a second flow channel connected to the mixing channel; and   contacting the first fluid with the second fluid in the mixing channel to produce the composition having the coloring material dispersed with the block copolymer in the solvent.   
   
   
       18 . The process for producing a composition according to  claim 17 , wherein precipitation or crystallization of the coloring material is conducted in the mixing channel. 
   
   
       19 . The process for producing a composition according to  claim 17 , wherein the contacting of the fluid with each other is with the fluids in a laminar flow state. 
   
   
       20 . The process for producing a composition according to  claim 17 , wherein the mixing channel has a cross-sectional area of not less than 0.5 mm 2 , and the ratio of the total cross-sectional area of flow channels connected with the mixing channel to the cross-sectional area of the mixing channel ranges from 0.01 to 0.1. 
   
   
       21 . The process for producing a composition according to  claim 17 , wherein the mixing channel has a rectangular cross-section having a ratio of a flow channel depth to a flow channel width of not less than 0.5.