Formation of monodisperse microbubbles in a microfluidic device

Abstract

Abstract The crossflowing rupture technique was first used in a microfluidic device to prepare microbubbles, and successfully prepared monodisperse microbubbles with polydispersity index (σ) values of <2%. The parameters affecting the microbubble‐formation process, such as two‐phase flow rates, continuous‐phase viscosity, surface tension, and surfactants were investigated. The microbubble‐formation mechanisms of the crossflowing rupture technique with those of the techniques of both flow‐focusing rupture and geometry‐dominated breakup were also compared. It was also found that the bubble size decreased with increasing continuous‐phase rate and its viscosity, while independent of surface tension. The different species of surfactants also influenced the microbubble‐formation process. Moreover, the bubble‐formation mechanism by using the crossflow rupture technique was different from the techniques of both hydrodynamic flow focusing and geometry‐dominated breakup. The microbubble‐formation process using the crossflowing rupture technique is controllable. © 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2006