An Adjustable Liquid-Liquid Microfluidic Extraction Device

We present for the first time a adjustable liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) device that allows coaxial aqueous-organic extractions with stable liquid-liquid interface. A helix wire is placed in the extraction tube stabilizes the 3D coaxial flowing immiscible streams, offering operation of the device both at high and at very low flow rates. This significantly enhances the applicability of microfluidic devices to investigate and achieve optimal extraction conditions. In this contribution, we demonstrate the prototype of adjustable pitch liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) device with regard to fluid properties, hydrodynamic and transport phenomena and discuss experimental extraction data. Such comprehensive understanding will in the future facilitate the process optimizations, and thus accelerate the uptake of microfluidic devices in the bioprocessing industry.