Process and system for reducing sizes of emulsion droplets and emulsions having reduced droplet sizes

摘要

A method of producing an emulsion includes preparing a droplet solution comprising first and second molecular species, the droplet solution being in a fluid phase, wherein the first molecular species is soluble in the second molecular species; forming a plurality of droplets from the droplet solution in a bulk fluid to create a first emulsion, the plurality of droplets having a first ensemble average radius in the bulk fluid, wherein the first molecular species of the droplet solution is at least partially soluble in the bulk fluid and the droplet solution is at least partially immiscible in the bulk fluid; and allowing molecules of the first molecular species to migrate from the plurality of fluid droplets to the bulk fluid due to a higher concentration of the first molecular species in the droplet solution than the bulk fluid to result in the plurality of droplets having a second ensemble average radius that is smaller than the first ensemble average radius. An emulsion includes a bulk fluid and a plurality of droplets dispersed in the bulk fluid. The plurality of droplets have an ensemble average radius less than about 25 nm and greater than about 5 nm.

主权项

1. A method of producing a nanoemulsion, comprising:
preparing a droplet solution comprising first and second molecular species, said droplet solution being in a fluid phase, wherein said first molecular species is soluble in said second molecular species; forming a first plurality of fluid droplets from said droplet solution in a bulk fluid to provide a first emulsion, said first plurality of fluid droplets having a first ensemble average radius that is greater than about 100 nanometers in said bulk fluid, wherein said first molecular species of said fluid droplet solution is at least partially soluble in said bulk fluid and said droplet solution is at least partially immiscible in said bulk fluid; performing an extreme emulsification of said first emulsion to provide a first nanoemulsion comprising a second plurality of fluid droplets having a second ensemble average radius that is less than about 100 nanometers in said bulk fluid; subjecting said first nanoemulsion to an environment to provide a second nanoemulsion comprising a third plurality of fluid droplets having a third ensemble average radius that is less than said second ensemble average radius due to said first molecular species migrating out of said second plurality of fluid droplets to said bulk fluid; and collecting said third plurality of fluid droplets having said third ensemble average radius to provide said nanoemulsion having reduced fluid droplet sizes.