Devices and methods for the production of particles

摘要

The present invention provides methods and devices for producing particles with an average diameter less than about 15 mum using the precipitation with compressed fluid-antisolvent (PCA) process and the carbon-dioxide assisted nebulization with a bubble dryer (CAN-BD) process. In the methods and nozzles of the invention, at least one jet of supercritical or near-supercritical fluid and at least one jet of solution interact to mix the supercritical or near-supercritical fluid and the solution within a chamber. The solution contains at least one solvent and at least one solute. At least one of the jets is a swirling jet. To form particles, the solvent and supercritical or near-supercritical fluid are then injected into a PCA or a CAN-BD process chamber. The degree of mixing depends in part on the power input into the mixing chamber. Power inputs of about 6.5x10<9 >W/m<3 >enhance the degree of mixing and allow production of nanoscale particles with the PCA process. The nanoscale particles have a size distribution so that polydispersity is less than about 1.75.