Method for producing a liquid composition

Abstract

To provide a method for producing liquid composition in which high miscibility of a first fluid and a second fluid, at least one of which is a liquid, can be obtained.SOLUTION: In the method for producing liquid composition, a first fluid and a second fluid, at least one of which is a liquid, are merged, and the merged liquid of the first fluid and the second fluid in a mixed state at the time of the merging is passed into a contraction unit 11 having a variable contraction ratio.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for producing a liquid composition, as well as a mixing method and a mixer used therefor.

Background Art

[0002] By applying high shear to a mixture of an aqueous component and an oily component and mixing them, an emulsion in which one of them is dispersed in the other can be produced. As such a mixing method, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method in which a mixture of an aqueous component and an oily component is circulated through a pressurized centrifugal pump and circulated through a circulation section that constitutes a circulation path including the pressurized centrifugal pump. Patent Document 2 discloses a method in which a mixture of an aqueous component and an oily component is stirred in a tank using an intermittent jet flow generation type emulsifying device and circulated through a circulation path attached to the tank. Patent Document 3 discloses a method in which a combined stream obtained by combining an aqueous component and an oily component is circulated through pores.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a liquid composition capable of obtaining high miscibility between a first fluid and a second fluid, at least one of which is a liquid.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The present invention is a method for producing a liquid composition, which combines a first fluid and a second fluid at least one of which is a liquid, and causes the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid in the mixed state when they are combined to flow through a constriction portion with a variable constriction ratio.

[0006] The present invention is a mixing method, which combines a first fluid and a second fluid at least one of which is a liquid, and causes the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid in the mixed state when they are combined to flow through a constriction portion with a variable constriction ratio.

[0007] The present invention is a mixer, which includes a supply system having a junction portion where a first fluid and a second fluid at least one of which is a liquid are combined, and a constriction portion provided on the downstream side of the supply system and having a variable constriction ratio through which the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid in the mixed state when combined at the junction portion supplied from the supply system flows.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, by causing the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid at least one of which is a liquid to flow through a constriction portion with a variable constriction ratio in the mixed state when they are combined, high miscibility of the first fluid and the second fluid can be obtained.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail.

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a liquid composition production apparatus A. This liquid composition production apparatus A includes a mixer 10, a first fluid supply source 21 and a second fluid supply source 22 on its upstream side, and a liquid composition recovery tank 31 on its downstream side.

[0012] The mixer 10 has a constriction section 11, a supply system 12 on its upstream side, and a recovery system 13 on its downstream side.

[0013] The constriction section 11 has a variable constriction ratio. Here, "constriction" in the present application means that a fluid flows from a wide flow path to a narrow flow path. Therefore, the constriction section 11 includes a portion where the flow path area continuously or stepwise decreases from the upstream side to the downstream side, or a portion where the flow path area discontinuously decreases. "Constriction ratio" in the present application means the ratio of the inner diameter of the narrowest portion of the flow path area in the constriction section 11 to the inner diameter of the upstream piping continuous with the constriction section 11. Therefore, the constriction ratio in the present embodiment corresponds to the ratio of the inner diameter of the narrowest portion of the flow path area in the constriction section 11 to the inner diameter of the confluent material supply pipe 123 described later. Note that the inner diameter is the hydraulic diameter when the flow path is non-circular. Also, "the constriction ratio is variable" in the present application is synonymous with the inner diameter of the narrowest portion of the flow path area in the constriction section 11 being variable.

[0014] From the viewpoint that the constriction section 11 is a simple component with a variable constriction ratio, it is preferably composed of a valve. Examples of the valve constituting the constriction section 11 include a ball valve, a butterfly valve, a globe valve, a gate valve, etc. Since the valve constituting the constriction section 11 has a variable constriction ratio, flow rate control is possible. The valve constituting the constriction section 11 preferably has a single-peak particle size distribution of the emulsion particle size when producing an emulsion as a liquid composition. The valve constituting the constriction section 11 preferably does not generate a differential pressure when the opening is 100%. Specifically, from these viewpoints, the valve constituting the constriction section 11 is preferably a ball valve or a butterfly valve, and more preferably a ball valve.

[0015] The supply system 12 includes a first fluid supply pipe 121, a second fluid supply pipe 122, and a confluent material supply pipe 123. The upstream end of the first fluid supply pipe 121 is connected to a first fluid supply source 21. The upstream end of the second fluid supply pipe 122 is connected to a second fluid supply source 22. The downstream ends of the first fluid supply pipe 121 and the second fluid supply pipe 122 are joined to form a confluence portion 124. The upstream end of the confluent material supply pipe 123 is joined to this confluence portion 124. The downstream end of the confluent material supply pipe 123 is connected to a constriction portion 11. From the viewpoint of obtaining uniform mixability, the confluent material supply pipe 123 preferably has a short length such that the confluence portion 124 is disposed immediately before the constriction portion 11. From a similar viewpoint, the length of the confluent material supply pipe 123 is preferably 25 cm or less, more preferably 5 cm or less, and still more preferably 1 cm or less. Note that the confluence portion 124 formed by joining the first fluid supply pipe 121 and the second fluid supply pipe 122 without including the confluent material supply pipe 123 may be directly connected to the constriction portion 11. Note that the pipe sizes of the first fluid supply pipe 121, the second fluid supply pipe 122, and the confluent material supply pipe 123 are not particularly limited.

[0016] The recovery system 13 is composed of a liquid composition recovery pipe 131. The upstream end of the liquid composition recovery pipe 131 is connected to the constriction portion 11. The downstream end of the liquid composition recovery pipe 131 is connected to a liquid composition recovery tank 31.

[0017] When the first fluid is a liquid, the first fluid supply source 21 is composed of a liquid tank or the like, and when the first fluid is a gas, the first fluid supply source 21 is composed of a gas tank or the like. Similarly, when the second fluid is a liquid, the second fluid supply source 22 is composed of a liquid tank or the like, and when the second fluid is a gas, the second fluid supply source 22 is composed of a gas tank or the like. The liquid composition recovery tank 31 is composed of a liquid tank.

[0018] Next, a method for manufacturing a liquid composition according to an embodiment using this liquid composition manufacturing apparatus A will be described.

[0019] In the method for producing a liquid composition according to the embodiment, a first fluid and a second fluid are mixed. And at least one of the first fluid and the second fluid is a liquid. Therefore, the method for producing a liquid composition according to the embodiment may be a liquid-liquid mixing in which both the first fluid and the second fluid are liquids, or may be a gas-liquid mixing in which one of the first fluid and the second fluid is a liquid and the other is a gas.

[0020] Examples of the liquid constituting the first fluid or the second fluid include water, a solvent of an organic solvent, a solution in which a solute is dissolved, a dispersion such as a slurry in which solid particles are dispersed in a dispersion medium, and an emulsion in which liquid particles are dispersed in a dispersion medium. Examples of the gas constituting the first fluid or the second fluid include a simple gas such as oxygen and a mixed gas such as air.

[0021] When the method for producing a liquid composition according to the embodiment is a liquid-liquid mixing in which both the first fluid and the second fluid are liquids, the first fluid and the second fluid may be immiscible. Therefore, the method for producing a liquid composition according to the embodiment may produce, as a liquid composition, an oil-in-water emulsion in which an oily component is dispersed in an aqueous component, or a water-in-oil emulsion in which an aqueous component is dispersed in an oily component, by one of the first fluid and the second fluid being an aqueous component of a liquid and the other being an oily component of a liquid.

[0022] In this case, examples of the content of the aqueous component include, in addition to water, a monoalkyl cation, a water-soluble solvent, a preservative, a chelating agent, an inorganic salt, a fragrance capsule, a water-soluble polymer, a fragrance precursor, and the like. Examples of the content of the oily component include an ester oil agent, a long-chain monoalcohol having 12 or more and 18 or less carbon atoms, an amidoamine having 14 or more and 18 or less carbon atoms, a silicone, a flavoring fragrance, a fragrance precursor, and the like. At least one of the aqueous component and the oily component may contain a surfactant. As the surfactant, various cationic surfactants, anionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and nonionic surfactants can be used.

[0023] In the method for manufacturing the liquid composition according to the embodiment, in the supply system 12, the first fluid is supplied from the first fluid supply source 21 through the first fluid supply pipe 121, and the second fluid is supplied from the second fluid supply source 22 through the second fluid supply pipe 122. Thereby, in the confluence part 124, the first fluid from the first fluid supply pipe 121 and the second fluid from the second fluid supply source 22 are made to confluence. The confluent of the first fluid and the second fluid that has confluenced at the confluence part 124 is supplied to the constriction part 11 through the confluent supply pipe 123.

[0024] At this time, the confluent of the first fluid and the second fluid flows into the constriction part 11 in the mixed state when the first fluid and the second fluid are confluent at the confluence part 124. Here, the "mixed state when the first fluid and the second fluid are confluent" in the present application includes, in addition to the mixed state immediately after the confluence of the first fluid and the second fluid, the mixed state of the first fluid and the second fluid after they are confluent and transported in the pipe without undergoing high shear. For example, when one of the first fluid and the second fluid is an aqueous component of a liquid and the other is an oily component of a liquid, when the first fluid and the second fluid are confluent at the confluence part 124, the resulting confluent immediately flows into the constriction part 11. Therefore, in the confluent supply pipe 123, substantially no emulsification progresses, and the confluent flows into the constriction part 11 in the phase-separated mixed state when the first fluid and the second fluid are confluent.

[0025] The flow velocity of the confluent of the first fluid and the second fluid is preferably 0.5 m / s or more and 2 m / s or less. When one of the first fluid and the second fluid is an aqueous component of a liquid and the other is an oily component of a liquid, the ratio of the oily component in the total flow rate is preferably 30% or less.

[0026] Subsequently, the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid in the mixed state when they merge is passed through the converging section 11. At this time, as the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid passes through the portion where the flow path area of the converging section 11 is reduced and undergoes high shear, their mixing is promoted to produce a liquid composition. When one of the first fluid and the second fluid is a liquid aqueous component and the other is a liquid oily component, the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid in a phase-separated mixed state passes through the converging section 11, undergoes high shear, and emulsifies to produce an emulsion liquid composition.

[0027] Also, the differential pressure across the converging section 11 at this time is preferably 5 kPa or more, more preferably 50 kPa or more, still more preferably 100 kPa or more, and preferably 2000 kPa (2.0 MPa) or less, more preferably 1000 kPa or less, still more preferably 500 kPa or less.

[0028] The liquid composition produced by passing through the converging section 11 is recovered into the liquid composition recovery tank 31 via the liquid composition recovery pipe 131 of the recovery system 13.

[0029] According to the method for producing a liquid composition according to the above embodiment, the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid, at least one of which is a liquid, in the mixed state when they merge is passed through the converging section 11 with a variable converging ratio, whereby high miscibility of the first fluid and the second fluid can be obtained. In particular, when one of the first fluid and the second fluid is a liquid aqueous component and the other is a liquid oily component, and an emulsion is produced as the liquid composition, even if the apparatus scale changes, by making the differential pressure across the converging section 11 the same, an emulsion with an equivalent emulsified particle size can be produced. Furthermore, if the apparatus scale is the same, without replacing the converging section 11, the emulsified particle size of the emulsion to be produced can be controlled only by operating the converging ratio of the converging section 11. Moreover, the control of the emulsified particle size of this emulsion can be performed uniformly regardless of their composition as long as the characteristics of the first fluid and the second fluid are similar.

[0030] In the above-described embodiment, two types of fluids, i.e., the first fluid and the second fluid, are mixed. However, the present invention is not particularly limited thereto, and three or more types of fluids may be mixed.

Example

[0031] (Production of Emulsion) Using an apparatus having the same configuration as shown in FIG. 1, emulsions of Examples 1 to 13 and Comparative Examples 1 to 6 were produced below. The respective configurations are also shown in Tables 1 and 2.

[0032] <Example 1> In Example 1, 15A-sized pipes were used as the first fluid supply pipe, the second fluid supply pipe, the confluent product supply pipe, and the liquid composition recovery pipe, and a ball valve for a 15A-sized pipe was used as the constriction section. As the first fluid and the second fluid, the former was composed of an aqueous component having a predetermined composition as the first fluid, and the latter was composed of Prescription A containing a quaternary ammonium salt of a cationic surfactant and a polyoxyethylene lauryl ether of a nonionic surfactant as an oily component having a predetermined composition.

[0033] Then, the aqueous component of the first fluid was supplied from the first fluid supply source to the first fluid supply pipe at a flow rate of 17 L / min, and the oily component of the second fluid was supplied from the second fluid supply source 22 to the second fluid supply pipe at a flow rate of 4 L / min. As a result, the confluent product formed by their confluence at the confluence section 124 was caused to flow in the confluent product supply pipe at a flow velocity of 1.4 m / s, and the confluent product was caused to flow into the ball valve of the constriction section. By setting the opening degree of the ball valve to 37%, the differential pressure before and after that was controlled to 30 kPa. The emulsion produced by flowing through the ball valve was recovered into the liquid composition recovery tank via the liquid composition recovery pipe.

[0034] <Examples 2 and 3> In Example 2, pipes of size 40A were used as the first fluid supply pipe, the second fluid supply pipe, the confluent material supply pipe, and the liquid composition recovery pipe. As the constriction section, a ball valve for a 40A-sized pipe was used, and the flow rates of the aqueous component and the oily component were set to 100 L / min and 22 L / min, respectively. Thus, the same operations as in Example 1 were performed, except that the confluent material was caused to flow in the confluent material supply pipe at a flow velocity of 1.4 m / s.

[0035] In Example 3, pipes of size 80A were used as the first fluid supply pipe, the second fluid supply pipe, the confluent material supply pipe, and the liquid composition recovery pipe. As the constriction section, a ball valve for an 80A-sized pipe was used, and the flow rates of the aqueous component and the oily component were set to 373 L / min and 83 L / min, respectively. Thus, the same operations as in Example 1 were performed, except that the confluent material was caused to flow in the confluent material supply pipe at a flow velocity of 1.4 m / s.

[0036] <Examples 4 and 5> In Example 4, as the first fluid and the second fluid, the former was composed of an aqueous component of a predetermined composition as the first fluid, and the latter was composed of a predetermined composition of an oily component containing a quaternary ammonium salt of a cationic surfactant and polyoxyethylene lauryl ether of a nonionic surfactant, and Prescription B was used. The same operations as in Example 1 were performed, except that the opening degree of the ball valve was set to 47%, and the differential pressure before and after that was controlled to 10 kPa.

[0037] In Example 5, the same operations as in Example 4 were performed, except that the opening degree of the ball valve was set to 32%, and the differential pressure before and after that was controlled to 60 kPa.

[0038] <Examples 6 to 8> In Example 6, as the first fluid and the second fluid, the former was composed of an aqueous component of a predetermined composition as the first fluid, and the latter was composed of a predetermined composition of an oily component containing a quaternary ammonium salt of a cationic surfactant and polyoxyethylene lauryl ether of a nonionic surfactant, and Prescription C was used. The same operations as in Example 4 were performed, except for this.

[0039] In Example 7, the same operations as in Example 6 were performed, except that the opening degree of the ball valve was set to 37% and the differential pressure before and after that was controlled to 30 kPa.

[0040] In Example 8, the same operations as in Example 6 were performed, except that the opening degree of the ball valve was set to 33% and the differential pressure before and after that was controlled to 50 kPa.

[0041] In Example 9, the same operations as in Example 6 were performed, except that the differential pressure before and after the ball valve was controlled to 330 kPa.

[0042] <Examples 10 to 12> In Example 10, as the first fluid and the second fluid, Prescription D was used in which the former was composed of an aqueous component with a predetermined composition and the latter was composed of an oily component with a predetermined composition containing a quaternary ammonium salt of a cationic surfactant and polyoxyethylene lauryl ether of a nonionic surfactant. By setting the flow rates of the aqueous component and the oily component to 6.6 L / min and 0.7 L / min, respectively, the mixture thereof was caused to flow in the confluent material supply pipe at a flow velocity of 0.5 m / s, and the same operations as in Example 1 were performed, except that the differential pressure before and after the ball valve was controlled to 15 kPa.

[0043] In Example 11, the same operations as in Example 10 were performed, except that the flow rates of the aqueous component and the oily component were set to 20 L / min and 2 L / min, respectively, and the mixture thereof was caused to flow in the confluent material supply pipe at a flow velocity of 1.5 m / s.

[0044] In Example 12, the same operations as in Example 10 were performed, except that the flow rates of the aqueous component and the oily component were set to 26 L / min and 3 L / min, respectively, and the mixture thereof was caused to flow in the confluent material supply pipe at a flow velocity of 2.0 m / s.

[0045] <Example 13> In Example 13, the same operations as in Example 4 were performed, except that a globe valve for a 15A size pipe was used as the throttling section.

[0046] <Comparative Examples 1 to 3> In Comparative Examples 1 to 3, the same operations as in Examples 1 to 3 were performed, respectively, except that a static mixer in which six mixing elements were provided in series in the fluid flow direction was used instead of the ball valve in the throttling section.

[0047] <Comparative Example 4> In Comparative Example 4, the same operations as in Comparative Example 3 were performed, except that the number of mixing elements of the static mixer was set to two.

[0048] <Comparative Examples 5 and 6> In Comparative Examples 5 and 6, a milder was used instead of the ball valve in the throttling section, and the flow rates of the aqueous component and the oily component were set to 1.7 L / min and 0.4 L / min, respectively. Mixing was performed under relatively low emulsification conditions in Comparative Example 5 and under relatively high emulsification conditions in Comparative Example 6.

[0049]

Table 1

[0050]

Table 2

[0051] (Test Method and Its Results) Regarding the emulsion particle sizes of Examples 1 to 13 and Comparative Examples 1 to 6, the obtained emulsions were diluted 1500-fold by mass with ion-exchanged water and adjusted to 20°C, and were determined from the light scattering intensity measured by a particle size and zeta potential measuring device, Zetasizer Nano ZS (manufactured by Malvern). Also, for each of Examples 1 to 13 and Comparative Examples 5 and 6, the particle size distribution of the emulsion particle size of the obtained emulsion was also determined. The results are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

[0052] When comparing Examples 1 to 3 with Comparative Examples 1 to 3, as shown in Fig. 2, in Examples 1 to 3 using a ball valve, even when the pipe size increases and the device scale changes, by aligning the differential pressure before and after the ball valve along with the flow rate of the confluent material, it can be seen that emulsions with equivalent emulsion particle sizes can be produced. In contrast, in Comparative Examples 1 to 3 using a static mixer, when the pipe size increases and the device scale changes, even when the flow rate of the confluent material is aligned, it can be seen that the emulsion particle size increases as the pipe size increases. Also, when comparing Examples 1 to 13, it is recognized that even when the formulations of the aqueous component and the oily component change, by aligning the differential pressure before and after the ball valve along with the flow rate of the confluent material, emulsions with generally equivalent emulsion particle sizes can be produced.

[0053] When comparing Examples 6 to 9 with Comparative Examples 3 and 4, in Examples 6 to 9 using a ball valve, with the device scale remaining the same and without replacing the ball valve, it can be seen that the emulsion particle size of the produced emulsion can be controlled only by adjusting the opening degree of the ball valve. On the other hand, in Comparative Examples 3 and 4 using a static mixer, in order to control the emulsion particle size, it is necessary to replace the static mixer.

[0054] When comparing Examples 10 to 12, it can be seen that even when the flow rate of the confluent liquid is different, the emulsion particle size can be controlled by the differential pressure before and after the ball valve.

[0055] When comparing Example 4 with Example 13, although emulsions with equivalent emulsion particle sizes are obtained in both Example 4 using a ball valve and Example 9 using a globe valve, the particle size distribution of the former's emulsion particle size is a single peak, while the particle size distribution of the latter's emulsion particle size is a double peak. From this, it can be seen that the ball valve can perform more uniform mixing than the globe valve.

[0056] Even when mixing using a milder as in Comparative Examples 5 and 6, it is possible to control the emulsion particle size. However, in the ball valves and globe valves used in Examples 1 to 9, since they do not require power like a milder, the device configuration can be simplified.

Industrial Applicability

[0057] The present invention is useful in the technical fields of a method for producing a liquid composition, and a mixing method and a mixer used therefor.

Explanation of Signs

[0058] A Liquid Composition Production Apparatus 10 Mixer 11 Converging Section 12 Supply System 121 First Fluid Supply Pipe 122 Second Fluid Supply Pipe 123 Confluent Material Supply Pipe 124 Confluence Section 13 Recovery System 131 Liquid Composition Recovery Pipe 21 First Fluid Supply Source 22 Second Fluid Supply Source 31 Liquid Composition Recovery Tank

Claims

A method for manufacturing a liquid composition, comprising: merging a first liquid fluid and a second liquid fluid at a confluence section, and subsequently flowing a mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid in a mixed state when merged through a confluent product supply pipe extending from the confluence section into a ball valve constituting a throttling section with a variable throttling ratio. One of the first fluid and the second fluid is an aqueous component and the other is an oil component, at least one of the first fluid and the second fluid contains a surfactant, and the liquid composition is an oil-in-water emulsion in which the oil component is dispersed in the aqueous component or a water-in-oil emulsion in which the aqueous component is dispersed in the oil component. The differential pressure before and after the ball valve constituting the throttling section is 5 kPa or more and 2000 kPa or less. A method for manufacturing a liquid composition, wherein the particle size distribution of the emulsion particle size of the oil-in-water emulsion or the water-in-oil emulsion, which is the liquid composition, is a single peak. The method for manufacturing a liquid composition according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the oil component in the total flow rate of the first fluid and the second fluid is 30% or less. The method for manufacturing a liquid composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flow velocity of the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid flowing into the ball valve constituting the throttling section is 0.5 m / s or more and 2 m / s or less. A mixing method for obtaining a liquid composition, comprising: merging a first liquid fluid and a second liquid fluid at a confluence section, and subsequently flowing a mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid in a mixed state when merged through a confluent product supply pipe extending from the confluence section into a ball valve constituting a throttling section with a variable throttling ratio. One of the first fluid and the second fluid is an aqueous component and the other is an oil component, at least one of the first fluid and the second fluid contains a surfactant, and the liquid composition is an oil-in-water emulsion in which the oil component is dispersed in the aqueous component or a water-in-oil emulsion in which the aqueous component is dispersed in the oil component. The differential pressure before and after the ball valve constituting the throttling section is 5 kPa or more and 2000 kPa or less. A mixing method, wherein the particle size distribution of the emulsion particle size of the oil-in-water emulsion or the water-in-oil emulsion, which is the liquid composition, is a single peak.

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