Dimensional Analysis of a Novel Low-Pressure Device for the Production of Size-Tunable Nanoemulsions

A novel low pressure device was used to generate nanoemulsions of methyl methacrylate. This device is based on a strong elongational flow known to be more efficient than the shear flow for dispersive mixing. The influence of process parameters (pressure drop number of cycles, number and size of holes) and composition parameters (monomer fraction, surfactant concentration, etc) on droplet size has shown that the average droplet size can be tailored in the range 30-200 nm by adjusting these parameters. The objective of the present paper is to find correlations that relate the obtained droplet size to the studied process and composition parameters. This model is based on a dimensional analysis using the Buckingham theorem in order to determine appropriate dimensionless numbers. This approach represents a first step for scaling up the device besides giving a set of parameters allowing to achieve a given droplet size. (c) 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 23-30, 2015