Preparation Methods of Membrane Emulsification (ME)

摘要

Membrane Emulsification (ME) is relatively a new technique to produce all types of single and multiple emulsions for Drug Delivery Systems (DDS), solid micro carriers for encapsulation of nutrients, solder particles for surface mount technology, mono disperse polymeric microspheres, enzyme carriers, and liquid crystal display spacers. It was introduced in Japan by Nakashima and Shimizu in the late 1980s. In this process, the disperse phase is forced through the pores of a micro porous membrane directly into the continuous phase. Emulsified droplets are formed at the end of the pores with a drop-by-drop mechanism. The advantages of Membrane Emulsification (ME) over Conventional Emulsification (CE) processes enables very fine emulsions of controlled droplet size and narrow droplet size distributions. Emulsification can be successfully performed with less emulsifier, energy consumption, and the reduced effect of shear stress, Membrane Emulsification (ME) allows the usage of shear-sensitive ingredients such as starch and proteins.