Production of sub-10 micrometre cellulose microbeads using isoporous membranes

by E. E. Ekanem, A. Sabirova, C. Callaghan, J. L. Scott, K. J. Edler, S. P. Nunes, D. Mattia

Year: 2022 ISSN: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memlet.2022.100024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memlet.2022.100024

Journal of Membrane Science Letters, Volume 2, Issue 1, May 2022, 100024

The production of sub-10 μm cellulose microbeads via membrane emulsification using isoporous membranes is

reported here for the first time. Poly(ethylene terephthalate) membranes, with defined interpore distances, pore

diameters and straight-through pores were fabricated via photolithography. A dispersed phase of 8 wt% cellulose

solution was extruded through the membrane pores, forming, due to shear provided by an overhead stirrer,

cellulose solution droplets dispersed in a continuous phase composed of 2 wt% and 5 wt% Span in sunflower

oil. Upon phase inversion with ethanol, sub-10 μm microbeads with a coefficient of variation (CV) < 45 % were

produced by exploring the Weber number (Wed) - Capillary number (Cac) emulsion generation space.

These results show that sub-10 μm cellulose microbeads can be produced using isoporous polymer membranes

fabricated via photolithography, for use in a wide range of applications in the personal care, food and drug

industries