Efficient Separation of Methanol Single-Micron Droplets by Tailing Phenomenon Using a PDMS Microfluidic Device

Daiki Tanaka*, Shengqi Zheng, Masahiro Furuya, Masashi Kobayashi, Hiroyuki Fujita, Takashiro Akitsu, Tetsushi Sekiguchi, Shuichi Shoji

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Microdroplet-based fluidic systems have the advantages of small size, short diffusion time, and no cross-contamination; consequently, droplets often provide a fast and precise reaction environment as well as an analytical environment for individual molecules. In order to handle diverse reactions, we developed a method to create organic single-micron droplets (S-MDs) smaller than 5 μm in diameter dispersed in silicone oil without surfactant. The S-MD generation microflow device consists of a mother droplet (MoD) generator and a tapered separation channel featuring multiple side channels. The tapered channel enhanced the shear forces to form tails from the MoDs, causing them to break up. Surface treatment with the fluoropolymer CYTOP protected PDMS fluid devices from organic fluids. The tailing separation of methanol droplets was accomplished without the use of surfactants. The generation of tiny organic droplets may offer new insights into chemical separation and help study the scaling effects of various chemical reactions.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1949
JournalMolecules
Volume29
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024 May

Keywords

  • fluid control
  • organic microdroplets
  • single-micron droplets
  • surface treatment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Chemistry (miscellaneous)
  • Molecular Medicine
  • Pharmaceutical Science
  • Drug Discovery
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry

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