A method for preparing a graphene-containing ultra-fine powdered natural rubber masterbatch, including: mixing a diluted graphene oxide dispersion with an anionic surfactant to obtain a modified graphene oxide dispersion; mixing the modified graphene oxide dispersion with a natural rubber latex suspension to obtain a mixed emulsion; and subjecting the mixed emulsion to spray drying to obtain the ultra-fine powdered natural rubber masterbatch with a particle size of less than 5 μm. This application further provides a method for preparing a graphene-modified natural rubber nanocomposite, including: mixing the ultra-fine powdered natural rubber masterbatch with natural rubber block, and carbon black.

A method for preparing a graphene-containing ultra-fine powdered natural rubber masterbatch, including: mixing a diluted graphene oxide dispersion with an anionic surfactant to obtain a modified graphene oxide dispersion; mixing the modified graphene oxide dispersion with a natural rubber latex suspension to obtain a mixed emulsion; and subjecting the mixed emulsion to spray drying to obtain the ultra-fine powdered natural rubber masterbatch with a particle size of less than 5 μm. This application further provides a method for preparing a graphene-modified natural rubber nanocomposite, including: mixing the ultra-fine powdered natural rubber masterbatch with natural rubber block, and carbon black.

Provided is an apparatus for producing solid polymeric microparticles, the apparatus comprising a plurality of liquid droplet generators for forming liquid droplets of a first liquid, and a nozzle for forming a jet of a second liquid, wherein the plurality of liquid droplet generators and the nozzle are arranged relative to each other such that, in use, liquid droplets from the plurality of liquid droplet generators pass through a gas into said jet of second liquid. Also provided is a process for producing solid microparticles, the process comprising: providing a first liquid comprising a solute and a solvent, the solute comprising a biocompatible polymer, the concentration of polymer in the first liquid being at least 10% w/v, ‘w’ being the weight of the polymer and ‘v’ being the volume of the solvent, providing a plurality of liquid droplet generators operable to generate liquid droplets, providing a jet of a second liquid, causing the plurality of liquid droplet generators to form liquid droplets of the first liquid, passing the liquid droplets through a gas to contact the jet of the second liquid so as to cause the solvent to exit the droplets, thus forming solid microparticles, the solubility of the solvent in the second liquid being at least 5 g of solvent per 100 ml of second liquid, the solvent being substantially miscible with the second liquid.

Provided is an apparatus for producing solid polymeric microparticles, the apparatus comprising a plurality of liquid droplet generators for forming liquid droplets of a first liquid, and a nozzle for forming a jet of a second liquid, wherein the plurality of liquid droplet generators and the nozzle are arranged relative to each other such that, in use, liquid droplets from the plurality of liquid droplet generators pass through a gas into said jet of second liquid. Also provided is a process for producing solid microparticles, the process comprising: providing a first liquid comprising a solute and a solvent, the solute comprising a biocompatible polymer, the concentration of polymer in the first liquid being at least 10% w/v, ‘w’ being the weight of the polymer and ‘v’ being the volume of the solvent, providing a plurality of liquid droplet generators operable to generate liquid droplets, providing a jet of a second liquid, causing the plurality of liquid droplet generators to form liquid droplets of the first liquid, passing the liquid droplets through a gas to contact the jet of the second liquid so as to cause the solvent to exit the droplets, thus forming solid microparticles, the solubility of the solvent in the second liquid being at least 5 g of solvent per 100 ml of second liquid, the solvent being substantially miscible with the second liquid.

Provided is an apparatus for a mass production of microspheres and a multichannel forming device incorporatable therein. The apparatus includes a multi-channel microsphere forming unit, a first source material reservoir containing the first source material and in fluid communication with the plurality of first microchannels, a second source material reservoir containing the second source material and in fluid communication with the plurality of second microchannels, a flow control unit configured to supply a first gas to the first source material reservoir at a first source material flow rate and to supply a second gas to a second source material reservoir at a second source material flow rate and a product reservoir for accommodating the microspheres formed from the multi-channel forming unit.

Provided is an apparatus for a mass production of microspheres and a multichannel forming device incorporatable therein. The apparatus includes a multi-channel microsphere forming unit, a first source material reservoir containing the first source material and in fluid communication with the plurality of first microchannels, a second source material reservoir containing the second source material and in fluid communication with the plurality of second microchannels, a flow control unit configured to supply a first gas to the first source material reservoir at a first source material flow rate and to supply a second gas to a second source material reservoir at a second source material flow rate and a product reservoir for accommodating the microspheres formed from the multi-channel forming unit.

Provided is a novel porous cellulose medium that can efficiently separate a large target molecule in a calibration standard. A porous cellulose medium including a porous cellulose particle having a particle size from 1 to 600 μm, wherein, in sieving the porous cellulose medium for classification and using a fraction corresponding to aperture openings between 53 μm and 106 μm as a support for size exclusion chromatography, a polyethylene oxide standard is run through size exclusion chromatography with pure water as a mobile phase, and a weight average molecular weight Mw and a gel partition coefficient K.sub.av of the polyethylene oxide standard satisfy Relationships (A) and (B) above:

in a case where 4.80≤log Mw≤5.50,K.sub.av>−0.445×log Mw+2.55  (A)

in a case where 5.75≤log Mw,0≤K.sup.av<0.19  (B).

Provided is a novel porous cellulose medium that can efficiently separate a large target molecule in a calibration standard. A porous cellulose medium including a porous cellulose particle having a particle size from 1 to 600 μm, wherein, in sieving the porous cellulose medium for classification and using a fraction corresponding to aperture openings between 53 μm and 106 μm as a support for size exclusion chromatography, a polyethylene oxide standard is run through size exclusion chromatography with pure water as a mobile phase, and a weight average molecular weight Mw and a gel partition coefficient K.sub.av of the polyethylene oxide standard satisfy Relationships (A) and (B) above:

in a case where 4.80≤log Mw≤5.50,K.sub.av>−0.445×log Mw+2.55  (A)

in a case where 5.75≤log Mw,0≤K.sup.av<0.19  (B).

An X-ray diffractometrically single-phase lithium titanium phosphate can be obtained by an industrially advantageous method. Provided is a method for producing the lithium titanium phosphate having a NASICON structure represented by the following general formula (1): Li.sub.1+xM.sub.x(Ti.sub.1−yA.sub.y).sub.2−x(PO.sub.4).sub.3 (1), and provided is a method comprising a first step of preparing a raw material mixed slurry (1) comprising, at least, titanium dioxide, phosphoric acid and a surfactant, a second step of heat treating the raw material mixed slurry (1) to obtain a raw material heat-treated slurry (2), a third step of mixing the raw material heat-treated slurry (2) with a lithium source to obtain a lithium-containing raw material heat-treated slurry (3), a fourth step of subjecting the lithium-containing raw material heat-treated slurry (3) to a spray drying treatment to obtain a reaction precursor containing, at least, Ti, P and Li, and a fifth step of firing the reaction precursor.

An X-ray diffractometrically single-phase lithium titanium phosphate can be obtained by an industrially advantageous method. Provided is a method for producing the lithium titanium phosphate having a NASICON structure represented by the following general formula (1): Li.sub.1+xM.sub.x(Ti.sub.1−yA.sub.y).sub.2−x(PO.sub.4).sub.3 (1), and provided is a method comprising a first step of preparing a raw material mixed slurry (1) comprising, at least, titanium dioxide, phosphoric acid and a surfactant, a second step of heat treating the raw material mixed slurry (1) to obtain a raw material heat-treated slurry (2), a third step of mixing the raw material heat-treated slurry (2) with a lithium source to obtain a lithium-containing raw material heat-treated slurry (3), a fourth step of subjecting the lithium-containing raw material heat-treated slurry (3) to a spray drying treatment to obtain a reaction precursor containing, at least, Ti, P and Li, and a fifth step of firing the reaction precursor.