One-step preparation method of multiple emulsions entrapping reactive agent in the liquid-liquid Couette-Taylor flow

The paper presents a method of multiple emulsions entrapping active agent preparation and stabilization by one-step process in the continuous liquid-liquid Couette-Taylor flow (CTF) contactor. The active agent is a component of the internal phase of multiple emulsions. The CTF flow contactor is characterized by high mass transfer parameters and represents an attractive tool for the multiphase systems. The results showed significant influence of the rotational flow in the CTF contactor on stability and characteristics of multiple emulsions. During the experiments stable O/W/O emulsions have been obtained. The internal droplets have mean size of 5-10 mu m and drops of membrane phase: 30-40 mu m. The microcapsules of an average diameter about 30 mu m were obtained after multiple emulsion chemical stabilization by cross-linking and thermal hardening. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.