Emulsifying and separating device for liquid phases

US7001576B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Merck Patent GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Michael Hohmann · Leipzig, DE
• Michael Schmelz · Griesheim, DE
• Gunter Brenner · Griesheim, DE
• Hanns Wurziger · Darmstadt, DE
• Norbert Schwesinger · Ilmenau, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 9, 2001
• Grant date: Feb 21, 2006
• Expiry date: May 11, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2035/00514
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A device for the emulsification and separation of small amounts of immiscible liquid phases has essentially a cover plate (2), which can be tightly connected to a base plate (1), where microchannels (4,4a,5,6,6a) in the form of grooves are cut out on the inner surface (3,3a) of the base plate (1) and/or cover plate (2). In a mixing zone, two microchannels (4,4a) run in a wave shape crossing one another a number of times. In a subsequent separation zone, they run essentially straight combined in a common microchannel (5). The otherwise tightly sealed-off microchannels (4,4a,5,6,6a) can be filled and emptied again via inlet apertures (8,8a) and outlet apertures (9,9a).