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Langmuir, Vol.22, No.19, 7943-7946, 2006
Controllable preparation of monodisperse O/W and W/O emulsions in the same microfluidic device
This letter presents a simple way to prepare monodisperse O/W and W/O emulsions in the same T-junction microfluidic device just by changing the wetting properties of the microchannel wall with different surfactants. Highly uniform droplets ranging from 50 to 400 mu m with a polydispersity index (sigma) value of less than 2% were successfully prepared. With the change in surfactants and surfactant concentrations, the interfacial tension and the wetting properties varied, and disordered or ordered two-phase flow patterns could be controllable. Monodisperse O/W and W/O emulsions were prepared under the action of a cross-flowing shear force or a perpendicular shear force by using an oil solution with 0.1-2.0 wt% Span 80 and an aqueous solution with 0.1-2.0 wt% Tween 20 as a continuous-phase flow, respectively. It gives a controllable method of preparing O/W and W/O emulsions in the same microfluidic device.