Emulsion breaking and phase separation is achieved by droplet adhesion. An emulsion breaking device includes a channel having distinct adjacent zones with distinctly different surface wettability characteristics, namely, solvophilic and solvophobic surfaces. The device is positioned such that the upstream portion of the device is configured to be wetted by the continuous phase of the emulsion, and the downstream portion of the device is configured to be wetted by the dispersed phase of the emulsion. As the emulsion flows from the upstream zone to the downstream zone, the change in surface wettability characteristics promotes adhesion of the dispersed phase as the dispersed phase wets the surface of the downstream portion of the channel, which results in breaking of the emulsion. Subsequent collection of the broken emulsion in a collection vessel results in separation of the disparate phases to facilitate their recapture and recycling.

A microfluidic apparatus includes a substrate defining a microchannel having inlet and an outlet defining a length of the microchannel. The microchannel has a main channel extending from the inlet to the outlet, and a plurality of side cavities extending from the main channel. The cavities are in fluid communication with the main channel. A method includes introducing a sample into the microchannel through the inlet to fill the entire microchannel, and then introducing a solvent into the microchannel through the inlet at a controlled flow rate and inlet pressure. A developed solvent front then moves along the main channel from the inlet to the outlet while displacing the sample in the main channel. Images of the microchannel are acquired as the front moves, and a miscibility condition is determined based on the images.

Disclosed herein are fluidic mixers having bifurcated fluidic flow through toroidal mixing elements. The mixers operate, at least partially, by Dean vortexing. Accordingly, the mixers are referred to as Dean Vortex Bifurcating Mixers (DVBM). The DVBM utilize Dean vortexing and asymmetric bifurcation of the fluidic channels that form the mixers to achieve the goal of optimized microfluidic mixing. The disclosed DVBM mixers can be incorporated into any fluidic (e.g., microfluidic) device known to those of skill in the art where mixing two or more fluids is desired. The disclosed mixers can be combined with any fluidic elements known to those of skill in the art, including syringes, pumps, inlets, outlets, non-DVBM mixers, heaters, assays, detectors, and the like.

Various implementations include an aeration device. The aeration device includes a venturi tube and an outlet tube. The venturi tube has an outlet port and an air intake port. The outlet tube has a first end coupled to the outlet port of the venturi tube, a second end opposite and spaced apart from the first end, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first and second ends of the outlet tube. The intermediate portion is helically shaped and extends around a helical axis of the intermediate portion. The intermediate portion extends at least one rotation about the helical axis.

The invention describes a method for isolating one or more genetic elements encoding a gene product having a desired activity, comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising genetic elements into microcapsules; and (b) sorting the genetic elements which express the gene product having the desired activity; wherein at least one step is under microfluidic control. The invention enables the in vitro evolution of nucleic acids and proteins by repeated mutagenesis and iterative applications of the method of the invention.

The invention describes a method for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, comprising the steps of: a) compartmentalising the compounds into microcapsules together with the target, such that only a subset of the repertoire is represented in multiple copies in any one microcapsule; and b) identifying the compound which binds to or modulates the activity of the target; wherein at least one step is performed under microfluidic control. The invention enables the screening of large repertoires of molecules which can serve as leads for drug development.

A device for continuous heating of fluids, using steam, includes a first tubular circuit, having one inlet and one outlet, in which to fluid or mixture of liquids with gases to be heated is circulated, and a second tubular circuit in which the heating steam is circulated. The first tubular circuit comprises a section that is helically wound around a section of the axial length of a hollow first cylindrical body, closed at both ends. The device further comprises a hollow second hollow cylindrical body in which said first cylindrical body and said helically wound section are coaxially housed. The second cylindrical body is closed at both ends and has radial passageways communicating between the cavity of said first cylindrical body and the cavity of said second cylindrical body. The first cylindrical body, second cylindrical body and radial passageways forming part of said second tubular circuit.

Provided according to an aspect of the invention may be an apparatus for manufacturing cosmetic, which includes a housing which forms an outer appearance; an internal phase container which is provided in the housing, and which stores internal phase fluid excluding surfactant; an external phase container which is provided in the housing, and which stores external phase fluid excluding surfactant; a channel unit which generates emulsion by mixing the internal phase fluid provided from the internal phase container and the external fluid provided from the external phase container; and an operative unit which provides external force required to form and discharge emulsion at the channel unit by manipulation of a user.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing cosmetic using instantaneous emulsification. Provided according to an aspect of the invention may be an apparatus for manufacturing cosmetic using instantaneous emulsification, which includes a housing which forms an outer appearance; an internal phase container which is replaceably coupled to the housing, and which stores internal phase fluid; an external phase container which is replaceably coupled to the housing, and which stores external phase fluid; a channel unit which generates emulsion by mixing the internal phase fluid provided from the internal phase container and the external phase fluid provided from the external phase container; and an operative unit which provides external force required to form and discharge emulsion at the channel unit by manipulation of a user.

Disclosed herein are fluidic mixers having bifurcated fluidic flow through toroidal mixing elements. The mixers operate, at least partially, by Dean vortexing. Accordingly, the mixers are referred to as Dean Vortex Bifurcating Mixers (DVBM). The DVBM utilize Dean vortexing and asymmetric bifurcation of the fluidic channels that form the mixers to achieve the goal of optimized microfluidic mixing. The disclosed DVBM mixers can be incorporated into any fluidic (e.g., microfluidic) device known to those of skill in the art where mixing two or more fluids is desired. The disclosed mixers can be combined with any fluidic elements known to those of skill in the art, including syringes, pumps, inlets, outlets, non-DVBM mixers, heaters, assays, detectors, and the like.