Size adjustment of spherical temperature-sensitive hydrogel beads by liquid-liquid dispersion using a Kenics static mixer

作者：Tajima Hideo^*; Yoshida Yuta; Abiko Satoko; Yamagiwa Kazuaki

来源：Chemical Engineering Journal, 2010, 156(2): 479-486.

DOI：10.1016/j.cej.2009.11.010

• Spherical hydrogel beads
• Static mixer
• Size adjustment
• Temperature-sensitive
• N,N-diethylacrylamide

Temperature-sensitive hydrogel beads were prepared by Kenics static mixer technology. The temperature-sensitive monomer N,N-diethylacrylamide and photo-crosslinkable pre-polymer ENT were used as model hydrogel materials. Drop dispersion of high viscosity polymer material in low viscosity hexadecane was made using the static mixer. Drops of a solution of the mixed materials were rapidly photo-crosslinked by UV irradiation after mixing in the static mixer, and spherical hydrogel beads with narrow, normal size distribution were thus prepared. The Kenics static mixer is a useful device for the preparation of spherical beads of temperature-sensitive hydrogels. The Sauter Mean Diameter of the hydrogel beads swollen in deionized water at 293 K was measured. The experimentally determined dimensionless swollen hydrogel bead diameter was well correlated with the Weber number, degree of swelling and viscosity ratio. The effects of gelation and ENT addition on the bead size were evaluated from the degree of swelling. The correlation equation can be used for size adjustment of temperature-sensitive spherical hydrogel beads.

• 出版日期2010-1-15