title: Microfluidic production of spherical and nonspherical fat particles by thermal quenching of crystallizable oils.
abstract: We report the microfluidic production of spherical and nonspherical fat particles from crystallizable oils. The method is based on microfluidic generation of oil droplets at a cross-junction followed by thermal solidification downstream in a microcapillary. We vary the drop production conditions and the device temperature and demonstrate that the size, shape, and crystallinity can be controlled. By measuring thermal gradients in the microcapillary, we show that crystalline fat particles are best produced when the device temperature is below the onset temperature of bulk fat crystallization. To produce monodisperse nonspherical fat particles, we find that the carrier fluid flow rate needs to be sufficiently high to provide strong hydrodynamic forces to transport the confined rod-like particles. We identify the scaling relationship between geometric confinement and particle elasticity necessary to maintain the nonspherical shape. Thus, our study provides guidelines for the production of spherical and nonspherical fat particles that can be potentially used for controlling microstructure, rheology, and drug encapsulation in foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical creams that employ crystallizable oils.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University , Lubbock, Texas 79409, United States.
authors.forename: Jihye
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Siva A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Vanapalli
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization; D005223:Fats / Q000737:chemistry*; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D000073878:Palm Oil; D010316:Particle Size; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D012212:Rheology; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D005223:Fats; D010938:Plant Oils; D000073878:Palm Oil