Process intensification for the synthesis of ultra-small organic nanoparticles with supercritical CO2 in a microfluidic system

摘要: Abstract Submicronization of organic compounds is a challenging requirement for applications in the imaging and pharmaceutical fields. A new Supercritical AntiSolvent process with microreactor (µSAS) was developed nanoparticle (NP) synthesis. Tetrahydrofuran (THF) used to solubilize model molecule, tetraphenylethylene, supercritical carbon dioxide (sc-CO2) as antisolvent. The solubility TPE THF/CO2 system first measured by situ experiments. Then, NPs were prepared various experimental conditions characterized transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Chosen led mean size 9 ± 3 nm. Experimental µSAS results compared distributions obtained simulation, obtain surface tension values, which are difficult access experiment alone. Simulations coupling Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Population Balance Equation (PBE) performed under turbulent high pressure microreactors. This coupled theoretical approach allowed deep understanding underlined superior value this technique preparation NPs.