Formation of microfluidic droplets and jets in a solvent-rich oil phase

We develop original flow-based methods to interrogate and manipulate out-of-equilibrium behaviour of ternary fluids systems at the small scale. In particular, we examine droplet and jet formation of ternary fluid systems in coaxial microchannels when an aqueous phase is injected into a solvent-rich...

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Main Authors: Victoria Joseph, Thomas Cubaud
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2025-01-01
Series:Flow
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Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2633425925100172/type/journal_article
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author Victoria Joseph
Thomas Cubaud
author_facet Victoria Joseph
Thomas Cubaud
author_sort Victoria Joseph
collection DOAJ
description We develop original flow-based methods to interrogate and manipulate out-of-equilibrium behaviour of ternary fluids systems at the small scale. In particular, we examine droplet and jet formation of ternary fluid systems in coaxial microchannels when an aqueous phase is injected into a solvent-rich oil phase using common fluids, such as ethanol for the aqueous phase, silicone oil for the oil phase and isopropanol for the solvent. Alcohols are often employed to impart oil and water properties with a myriad of practical uses as extractants, antiseptics, wetting agents, emulsifiers or biofuels. Here, we systematically examine the role of alcohol solvents on the hydrodynamic stability of aqueous–oil multiphase flows in square microchannels. Broad variations of flow rates and solvent concentration reveal a variety of intriguing droplet and jet flow regimes in the presence of spontaneous emulsification phenomena and significant mass transfer across the fluid interface. Typical flow patterns include dripping and jetting droplets, phase inversion and dynamic wetting and conjugate jets. Functional relationships are developed to model the evolution of multiphase flow characteristics with solvent concentration. This work provides insights into complex natural phenomena relevant to the application of microfluidic droplet systems to chemical assays as well as fluid measurement and characterisation technologies.
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spelling doaj-art-b62c1eff77e6406496dceed1ed5f7fcc2025-08-20T03:28:37ZengCambridge University PressFlow2633-42592025-01-01510.1017/flo.2025.10017Formation of microfluidic droplets and jets in a solvent-rich oil phaseVictoria Joseph0https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8508-5988Thomas Cubaud1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9296-0783Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USAWe develop original flow-based methods to interrogate and manipulate out-of-equilibrium behaviour of ternary fluids systems at the small scale. In particular, we examine droplet and jet formation of ternary fluid systems in coaxial microchannels when an aqueous phase is injected into a solvent-rich oil phase using common fluids, such as ethanol for the aqueous phase, silicone oil for the oil phase and isopropanol for the solvent. Alcohols are often employed to impart oil and water properties with a myriad of practical uses as extractants, antiseptics, wetting agents, emulsifiers or biofuels. Here, we systematically examine the role of alcohol solvents on the hydrodynamic stability of aqueous–oil multiphase flows in square microchannels. Broad variations of flow rates and solvent concentration reveal a variety of intriguing droplet and jet flow regimes in the presence of spontaneous emulsification phenomena and significant mass transfer across the fluid interface. Typical flow patterns include dripping and jetting droplets, phase inversion and dynamic wetting and conjugate jets. Functional relationships are developed to model the evolution of multiphase flow characteristics with solvent concentration. This work provides insights into complex natural phenomena relevant to the application of microfluidic droplet systems to chemical assays as well as fluid measurement and characterisation technologies.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2633425925100172/type/journal_articleIsopropanolMiscibleSolvent shiftingSpontaneous emulsificationWetting
spellingShingle Victoria Joseph
Thomas Cubaud
Formation of microfluidic droplets and jets in a solvent-rich oil phase
Flow
Isopropanol
Miscible
Solvent shifting
Spontaneous emulsification
Wetting
title Formation of microfluidic droplets and jets in a solvent-rich oil phase
title_full Formation of microfluidic droplets and jets in a solvent-rich oil phase
title_fullStr Formation of microfluidic droplets and jets in a solvent-rich oil phase
title_full_unstemmed Formation of microfluidic droplets and jets in a solvent-rich oil phase
title_short Formation of microfluidic droplets and jets in a solvent-rich oil phase
title_sort formation of microfluidic droplets and jets in a solvent rich oil phase
topic Isopropanol
Miscible
Solvent shifting
Spontaneous emulsification
Wetting
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2633425925100172/type/journal_article
work_keys_str_mv AT victoriajoseph formationofmicrofluidicdropletsandjetsinasolventrichoilphase
AT thomascubaud formationofmicrofluidicdropletsandjetsinasolventrichoilphase