Behavior of Droplets in Microfluidic System with T-Junction

Authors: A. Guellati, F-M Lounis, N. Guemras, K. Daoud

Abstract:

Micro droplet formation is considered as a growing emerging area of research due to its wide-range application in chemistry as well as biology. The mechanism of micro droplet formation using two immiscible liquids running through a T-junction has been widely studied. We believe that the flow of these two immiscible phases can be of greater important factor that could have an impact on out-flow hydrodynamic behavior, the droplets generated and the size of the droplets. In this study, the type of the capillary tubes used also represents another important factor that can have an impact on the generation of micro droplets. The tygon capillary tubing with hydrophilic inner surface doesn't allow regular out-flows due to the fact that the continuous phase doesn't adhere to the wall of the capillary inner surface. Teflon capillary tubing, presents better wettability than tygon tubing, and allows to obtain steady and regular regimes of out-flow, and the micro droplets are homogeneoussize. The size of the droplets is directly dependent on the flows of the continuous and dispersed phases. Thus, as increasing the flow of the continuous phase, to flow of the dispersed phase stationary, the size of the drops decreases. Inversely, while increasing the flow of the dispersed phase, to flow of the continuous phase stationary, the size of the droplet increases.

Keywords: Microfluidic system, micro droplets generation, T-junction.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1337289

References:

[1] Annie Colin. "Écoulement de gouttes dans des micro canaux: simulations numériques et expériences”. Doctorat thesis, Université de Bordeau 1. France, 2007.
[2] Anna, S. L., Bontoux, N., Stone, H. A. "Formation of dispersions using "flow focusing” in microchannels”. Applied Physics Letters, 2003, 82 pp 364-366.
[3] Guillot, P., Colin, A."Stability of parallel flows in a microchannel after a T junction”. Phys. Rev. 2005,E 72 066301.
[4] S. Teychené, B. Biscans."Crystal nucleation in a droplet based microfluidic crystallizer”. Chemical Engineering Science. 2012, Volume 77, 30, pp 242–248.
[5] Chun-Xia Zhaoa, Anton P.J. Middelberg."Two-phase microfluidic flows”. Chemical Engineering Science.2011, Volume 66, Issue 7, pp 1394–1411.
[6] TaotaoFua, b, YouguangMaa, Denis Funfschillingb, Huai Z. Lib.. "Dynamics of bubble breakup in a microfluidic T-junction divergence”. Chemical Engineering Science. 2011,Volume 66, Issue 18, pp 4184– 4195
[7] Ildefonso, M.; Candoni, N.; Veesler, S., "A Cheap, Easy Microfluidic Crystallization Device Ensuring Universal Solvent Compatibility”. Organic Process Research & Development.2012, 16, 556-560.
[8] KherratAbderlghani. "Réalisation de microchambres d'analyse chimique microcapteurs de pH et microfluidique associés”. Doctorat thesis, Université de Rennes 1. 2012.
[9] Thorsen, et al.. "Dynamic pattern formation in a vesicle-generating microfluidic device”. Physical review letters, 2001, 86, pp 4163–4166.
[10] Chabert Max. "Microfluidique de gouttes pour les analyses biologiques”., Doctorat thesis, Université Paris VI.2007.
[11] Marcati Alain. "Génération de particules de polymères à structure contrôlée par la microfluidique”. Doctorat thesis, Université de Toulouse.2009.
[12] Guillot. P. "Ecoulement de fluides immiscibles dans un canal submillimétrique: stabilité et application à la rhéologie”. Doctorat thesis, Université Bordeaux 1.2006
[13] DEBAS Hélène et al.. "Etude de la formation des gouttes par micro PIV”. 18éme Congrès Français de Mécanique, Grenoble.2007.
[14] Guillome Aubrey. "Microrésonateurs optiques à état liquide et microfluidique digitale. Applications aux lasers à colorant en gouttes pour les laboratoires-sur-puce”. Doctorat thesis, Université Paris sud.2012.