There is described a cross-flow apparatus for producing an emulsion or dispersion by dispersing a first phase in a second phase; said cross-flow apparatus comprising: an outer tubular sleeve (2) provided with a first inlet (3) at a first end (4); an emulsion outlet (5); and a second inlet (7), distal from and inclined relative to the first inlet; a tubular membrane provided with a plurality of pores and adapted to be positioned inside the tubular sleeve (2); and optionally an insert adapted to be located inside the tubular membrane, said insert comprising an inlet end and an outlet end, each of the inlet end and an outlet end being provided with chamfered region; the chamfered region is provided with a plurality of orifices and a furcation plate.

A droplet generating system includes a reservoir configured to receive an organic fluid and an aqueous fluid, a barrier separating the reservoir into a first reservoir portion and a second reservoir portion, a tube, and an indexer. The barrier is capable of preventing the aqueous fluid from entering the second reservoir portion from the first reservoir portion. The tube is disposed near the barrier, and the tube has a microfluidic channel. The indexer guides the aqueous fluid and the organic fluid into the microfluidic channel so as to form droplets of the aqueous fluid.

A microcarrier forming apparatus includes a tank having an inner periphery. A plurality of spoilers is disposed on the inner periphery of the tank. A spray generator includes a spraying end facing an interior of the tank. A stirrer includes a shaft and a fluid driving member. The shaft includes a central axis inclined from a horizontal plane. The fluid driving member is coupled to the shaft and is disposed in the interior of the tank.

Methods of generating droplets. In an exemplary method, a device including a sample well, a carrier well, a droplet well, and a plurality of microfluidic channels is selected. The microfluidic channels include a first channel, a second channel, and a third channel. A discrete volume of sample-containing fluid is placed into the sample well, and a discrete volume of carrier fluid is placed into the carrier well. A pressure differential is created after placing the discrete volumes, to cause fluid flow. Sample-containing fluid flows from the sample well to a droplet-generation region of the device via the first channel. Carrier fluid flows from the carrier well to the droplet-generation region via the second channel. Sample-containing droplets and carrier fluid flow from the droplet-generation region to the droplet well via the third channel.

An apparatus for distributing oil into fluid food product includes a batch tank, a transfer line, a pressure tank, a funnel, an oil dispenser, an inline shear mixer, and a flow line. The batch tank holds a volume of fluid food product. The transfer line is in fluid connection with the batch tank. The pressure tank holds a volume of oil. The funnel is disposed through a top opening in the pressure tank and dispenses oil into the pressure tank. A stem portion of the funnel extends at least halfway into an interior of the pressure tank. The funnel includes at least one vent. The oil dispenser dispenses oil from the pressure tank into a flow of fluid food product from the batch tank. The inline shear mixer mixes the fluid food product and the oil. The flow line flows the fluid food product-and-oil mixture to the batch tank.

Devices and methods for generating droplets. An exemplary device comprises a substantially planar base portion including a bottom surface having a plurality of microfluidic channels formed therein as recessed regions of the bottom surface. The device also comprises a plurality of protrusions projecting from a top surface of the base portion and each formed integrally with the base portion. The device further comprises a sample well, a carrier well, and a droplet well. Each well has an upper portion created by one of the protrusions. A cover layer is attached to the bottom surface of the base portion and seals a bottom side of each microfluidic channel.

Methods of making a droplet-generating device. In an exemplary method, an upper member is injection molded. The upper member includes a bottom surface and also includes a first microfluidic channel, a second microfluidic channel, and a third microfluidic channel each formed in the bottom surface. The upper member has a plurality of openings each extending completely through the upper member from the bottom surface and creating a side wall region of a sample well, a carrier well, and a droplet well. A cover layer is attached to the bottom surface of the upper member, such that the cover layer seals a bottom side of each microfluidic channel. The microfluidic channels meet one another to create a droplet-generation region. The sample well, the carrier well, and the droplet well are connected to the droplet-generation region via the first, second, and third microfluidic channels, respectively.

Embodiments of the present technology may include a system for forming an emulsion. The system may include a coiled tube. The coiled tube may have a first end and a second end. The second end may be located at a position higher than the position of the first end. The system may also include a plurality of beads disposed within the coiled tube. The system may further include a first inlet fluidly connected to the coiled tube. The first inlet may be configured to deliver a first fluid to the first end before the second end. In addition, the system may include a second inlet fluidly connected to the coiled tube. The second inlet may be configured to deliver a second fluid to the first end before the second end.

A method for spontaneous emulsification comprising mixing (i) an aqueous phase comprising a partitioning agent which contains a partitioning anion which determines the hydrophilicity of the partitioning agent, alone or in further combination with an electrolyte, with (ii) an oil phase comprising a phase-transfer agent, wherein the phase-transfer agent creates and promotes an interfacial flux of an anion and promotes the formation of droplets at a liquid-liquid interface of the aqueous phase and oil phase; and a method for spontaneous electro-emulsification comprising generating an ionic flux across the liquid-liquid interface by applying an electrical potential.

A method for continuously processing at least two liquid feed streams is provided. A system for continuously processing at least two liquid feed streams is also provided.