JP4687238B2 - Micro channel structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a microchannel structure having a microchannel that performs chemical reaction, droplet generation, analysis, etc., and is suitable for performing chemical reaction of a fluid introduced into the microchannel and extraction and separation of products. The present invention relates to a channel structure.

  In recent years, a fluid is introduced into a microchannel using a microchannel structure having a microchannel having a length of about several centimeters on a glass substrate of several cm square and a width and depth of sub-μm to several hundred μm. Research that conducts chemical reactions is attracting attention. In such a microchannel, the rapid diffusion of molecules due to the effect of a short intermolecular distance and a large specific interfacial area in a microspace enables efficient chemical reaction without special stirring operation. It has been suggested that the side reaction that occurs subsequently is suppressed by rapidly extracting and separating the target compound produced by the reaction from the reaction phase to the extraction phase (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1). Here, the microchannel generally means a channel having a channel width of 50 to 300 μm and a channel depth of 10 to 100 μm.

  In the above example, as shown in FIG. 1, an organic phase (1) and an organic phase (2) in which raw materials are dissolved are introduced into a Y-shaped microchannel, and an organic phase formed by a Y-shaped merged portion. Reaction occurs at the laminar interface (3) between the water phase and the water phase. In general, there are almost all cases where the Reynolds number is smaller than 1 in a micro-scale flow path, and a laminar flow state as shown in FIG. 1 is obtained unless the flow velocity is significantly increased. Moreover, since the diffusion time is proportional to the square of the width (9) of the microchannel, the smaller the microchannel width (9), the more the mixing proceeds by molecular diffusion without actively mixing the reaction solution. , Reaction and extraction are likely to occur.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, it is generally said that the water phase and the organic phase can be separated by making the fluid outlet (12) of the microchannel into a Y shape. In this way, completely separating and discharging the fluid introduced at the fluid discharge port completely stops the reaction and extraction caused by the contact of the fluid in the microchannel at the branch (4) of the microchannel. This is a very important function for reusing the fluid once introduced into the microchannel.

In practice, however, the position of the laminar interface is unstable and fluctuates. The first factor is that the position of the laminar flow interface fluctuates due to temporal fluctuations in the liquid feeding speed caused by a pump or the like that feeds fluid as shown in FIGS. This phenomenon will be described using the Hagen-Poiseuille equation, which is a theoretical equation representing the pressure loss based on the internal friction of the fluid in the laminar flow in the circular pipe. As shown in FIG. 7, when a fluid flows in a horizontal circular pipe (7) having a diameter d [m] (6) in a laminar flow at a linear velocity u [m / s] (5), The pressure loss ΔP [Pa], which is the difference between the pressures P1 and P2 acting on the circular pipe end face (8), is
ΔP = P2−P1 = 32 μLu / d ² (Formula 1)
It becomes. This is called the Hagen-Poiseuille equation. Here, μ [Pa · s] is a viscosity coefficient, and L [m] is a flow path length (10). As shown in FIG. 8, when two fluids A (13) and B (14) flow in a laminar flow and form a laminar flow interface in the microchannel, each fluid is expressed by (formula 1 ), And the pressure losses ΔP _A and ΔP _B of the fluid A (13) and the fluid B (14) are expressed by (Expression 2) and (Expression 3), respectively.

_{ΔP A = 32μ A Lu A /} d A 2 ( Equation 2)
_{ΔP B = 32μ B Lu B /} d B 2 ( Equation 3)
Here, μ _A , u _A , and d _A are the viscosity coefficient, linear velocity (5), and fluid width (33) of fluid A (13), respectively, and μ _B , u _B , and d _B are fluid B (14) viscosity coefficient, linear velocity (5), fluid width (33). Here, since the fluid A and the fluid B are flowing in the same minute flow channel having the flow channel width D [m] (22), ΔP _A and ΔP _B are balanced and Expression 4 is established. .

^{_{μ A u A / d A 2}} = μ B u B / d B 2 ( Equation 4)
Furthermore, the relationship between the liquid feeding speed v [μL / min] and the linear velocity u [m / s] is as follows: S [m ² ] is a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the fluid flow direction.
u = 1.67 × 10 ⁻¹¹ · v / S (Formula 5)
There the relationship, this relationship by substituting the equation _{(4) μ A v A / S} A d A 2 = μ B v B / S B d B 2 ( Formula 6)
And. Here, v _A and v _B are the feeding speeds of fluid A and fluid B, respectively, and S _A and S _B are cross-sectional areas perpendicular to the flow directions of fluid A and fluid B, respectively. Furthermore, since the cross-sectional area S [m ² ] is proportional to the square of the fluid width d [m],
^{_{μ A v A / d A 4}} = μ B v B / d B 4 ( Equation 7)
Since the fluid A and the fluid B are flowing in the same minute channel having the channel width D [m] (22),
D = d _A + d _B (Formula 8)
Is established.

Here, it is assumed that the viscosity of the fluid A (13) and the fluid B (14) does not change. Now, when the feed rate of the fluid A (13) becomes larger changes, v _A is increased at the same time d _A tries to keep the balance of greater than (Equation 7). As d _A increases, the flow path width D (22) is constant, so that d _B decreases and v _B decreases as well as the balance of (Equation 7) is maintained. Therefore, the position of the laminar flow interface varies due to a temporal variation in the liquid feeding speed caused by a pump or the like that feeds fluid. Further, in the above example, it is assumed that the viscosity of the fluid A (13) and the fluid B (14) does not change, but the viscosity of the fluid A (13) and the fluid B (14) according to the progress of the chemical reaction and extraction. Since the balance of (Equation 7) is tried to be maintained when d is changed, d _A and d _B are similarly changed to change the position of the laminar flow interface.

  The second factor that the position of the laminar flow interface is unstable and fluctuates is that, as shown in FIG. 6, fluid wraparound (15) occurs due to the difference in affinity between the inner wall of the microchannel and the fluid to be fed. is there. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the aqueous phase (1) and the organic phase (2) are fed into a glass microchannel, the aqueous phase (1) is made of glass compared to the organic phase (2). Since the affinity is high, as shown in FIG. 4, the aqueous phase (1) gradually flows around the inner wall of the flow path so as to surround the outside of the organic phase (2). If it branches in the branch part of a microchannel with this state, an aqueous phase (1) will mix in an organic phase (2), and an organic phase (2) will mix in an aqueous phase (1).

  Due to the above factors, it is not easy to stably form the laminar flow interface (3) as shown in FIG. In particular, in order to lengthen the reaction time and extraction time in the microchannel, when feeding at a low flow rate in order to lengthen the residence time of the fluid in the microchannel, fluctuations in the feeding speed or wraparound of the fluid Is likely to occur.

  That is, the laminar flow cannot be maintained by changing the position of the laminar flow interface due to temporal fluctuations in the liquid feeding speed caused by a pump for feeding fluid, etc., and the liquid is fed to the inner wall of the microchannel. When fluid wraparound occurs due to the difference in affinity with the fluid, other fluids are mixed into each fluid discharged from the fluid outlet of the microchannel, and the fluid contacts in the microchannel. It is impossible to completely stop the reaction and extraction caused by the flow at the branch portion of the microchannel, and to reuse the fluid once introduced into the microchannel, each fluid discharged from the discharge port It was necessary to separate the mixed fluid, and it was not possible to easily recycle the fluid.

In order to suppress fluctuations in the position of the laminar flow interface between the fluids introduced into the microchannel, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, about 20% of the channel depth (17) at the bottom (18) of the microchannel. A microchannel structure having a guide strip (16) of less than or equal to the degree has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). By forming such a guide strip (16) on the bottom (18) of the microchannel, the variation in the position of the laminar flow interface (3) shown in FIG. 3 (a) can be suppressed to some extent. The flow of the fluid (15) due to the difference in affinity between the inner wall of the microchannel and the fluid to be fed shown in b) cannot be sufficiently suppressed.
Moreover, in order to stabilize the laminar flow interface between the fluids introduced into the microchannel, the fluid was introduced along the boundary formed between the introduced fluids, for example, as shown in FIGS. There has been proposed a microchannel structure having one or more partition walls having a height substantially equal to the microchannel depth so that fluids do not mix with each other (see, for example, Patent Document 2). By forming such a partition wall in the microchannel, the variation in the position of the laminar flow interface (3) shown in FIG. 3 can be suppressed to some extent, and the inner wall of the microchannel shown in FIG. The flow of the fluid (15) due to the difference in the affinity can be suppressed to some extent. However, as shown in FIG. 21, when the fluctuation width of the laminar flow interface exceeds a certain value, one fluid enters the other fluid side in the form of droplets from the gap of the partition wall (37). Due to the pressure fluctuation in the vicinity of the laminar flow interface generated in the process of generating the droplets, the position of the laminar flow interface fluctuates further, and there is a problem that the laminar flow cannot be maintained for a certain time.
From the above, it is very difficult to discharge each fluid from the fluid outlet of the microchannel without mixing other fluids, forming a microchannel with a guide strip and a partition wall. There was a need for further improvements in the microchannels.

H. Hisamoto et. al. (H. Hisamoto et al.) “Fast and high conversion phase-transfer synthesis exploitation the liquid-liquid interface formed in a microchannel chip”, Chem. Commun. , 2001, 2662-2663. JP 2002-1102 A (page 3-4, FIG. 1) JP 2004-348453 A (page 35, FIG. 6)

  The object of the present invention has been proposed in view of such a conventional situation, and two or more fluids are introduced into a microchannel, and are brought into contact with each other in the fluid traveling direction in the microchannel. An object of the present invention is to provide a micro flow channel structure that performs reaction and extraction, and allows each fluid to be separately discharged from a predetermined outlet without substantially mixing other fluids.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides two or more inlets for introducing a fluid, an introduction channel communicating with the inlet, a merging portion where the introduction channel merges, and a minute channel for flowing the introduced fluid. A microchannel structure having a channel, two or more discharge channels having a branch portion that communicates with the microchannel and separates a fluid to be introduced, and a discharge port that communicates with the two or more discharge channels. The microchannel is provided with a discontinuous partition wall having a height substantially equal to the height of the microchannel at or near a laminar flow interface formed by two or more introduced fluids. In addition, by using a micro-channel structure body in which convex guide strips that are continuous at positions on both sides of the partition wall are provided on the bottom surface of the micro-channel, the above-described problems due to the prior art are solved. Finally, the present invention was completedHereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.

  As described above, by forming a guide strip at the bottom of the microchannel, fluctuations in the position of the laminar flow interface between the fluids introduced into the microchannel can be suppressed to some extent. It was not possible to suppress the wraparound of the fluid due to the difference in affinity with the fluid. On the other hand, by forming the partition wall along the boundary formed by two or more introduced fluids, the flow of fluid due to the difference in affinity between the inner wall of the microchannel and the fluid to be fed can be suppressed to some extent. However, the laminar flow cannot be maintained when the position of the laminar flow interface exceeds a certain level.

  From this, by forming both the partition wall provided at or near the position of the laminar flow interface formed by two or more introduced fluids and the guide strip provided on the bottom surface of the microchannel, Maintains a stable laminar flow interface, prevents the fluid from flowing in due to the difference in affinity between the flow path inner wall and the fluid to be pumped, and drops droplets from the gap in the partition wall due to large fluctuations in the laminar flow interface. Occurrence can be suppressed, and separation can be achieved more effectively without mixing other fluids into each fluid at the branch portion of the micro flow channel.

  Therefore, the micro flow channel structure according to the present invention is a micro flow channel that communicates with two or more inlets for introducing a fluid, an introduction flow channel that communicates with them, and a merging portion where the introduction flow channel joins and flows the introduced fluid. A microchannel structure having a channel, two or more discharge channels having a branch portion that communicates with the microchannel and separates a fluid to be introduced, and a discharge port that communicates with the two or more discharge channels. The microchannel is provided with a discontinuous partition wall having a height substantially equal to the height of the microchannel at or near a laminar flow interface formed by two or more introduced fluids. In addition, convex guide strips continuous at positions on both sides of the partition wall are provided on the bottom surface of the microchannel.

  Here, that the introduced fluids do not mix with each other means that there is substantially no mixing of other fluids in each fluid, and more specifically, the mixing rate is less than 10%.

  Moreover, said microchannel is a channel generally having a width of 500 μm or less and a depth of 300 μm or less. The width and depth of the introduction channel and the discharge channel are not particularly limited, but may be the same width and depth as the microchannel. The sizes of the introduction port and the discharge port are not particularly limited, but may generally be about 0.1 to several mm in diameter.

  The microchannel structure according to the present invention is a microfluidic structure in which two or more fluids in which a target reactant or a substance to be extracted is dissolved in a medium such as water or an organic solvent are formed in the microchannel structure. Introduced into the channel, the introduced fluid is sent while maintaining a laminar flow in the microchannel space, so that the introduced fluid is brought into contact with each other for chemical reaction and extraction treatment, and the microchannel When the liquid is further sent to the discharge flow path, each of the introduced fluids can be supplied to the predetermined discharge flow path.

  For this reason, the microchannel structure of the present invention communicates with two or more inlets for introducing a fluid, an inlet channel communicating with them, and a portion (merging portion) where the inlet channel merges, and A structure having a micro flow channel for flowing an introduced fluid, two or more discharge flow channels having a branch portion that communicates with the micro flow channel and separates a predetermined fluid, and a discharge port that communicates with them It is said. Further, in order to allow each of the introduced fluids to be fed to a predetermined discharge channel, the microchannel has the microchannel at or near the position of the laminar interface formed by the two or more fluids introduced. Discontinuous partition walls having a height substantially equal to the height of the flow path are provided, and convex guide strips continuous at positions on both sides of the partition wall are provided on the bottom surface of the micro flow path. It is.

  This guide strip is provided in order to suppress the movement of the laminar flow interface position due to the pressure fluctuation of the introduced fluid as much as possible, but the formed position is introduced as shown in FIG. However, as shown in FIG. 23, only a part where the fluids merge and form a laminar flow interface may be used. However, as shown in FIG. It may exist through the path from the branch part to the discharge flow path and the discharge port. The height is not particularly limited, but may be high enough to obtain an effect of suppressing the movement of the position of the laminar flow interface, and preferably about 20% of the flow path depth. Good.

  The guide strips are continuously provided along the fluid traveling direction on both sides of the partition wall. As the number of guide strips, one guide strip may be provided on both sides of the partition wall. Two or more guide strips may be formed substantially parallel to each other without crossing each other, and symmetrical with respect to the partition wall in order to further stabilize the laminar flow interface of the introduced fluid The same number may be provided so that the positions of The position is preferably provided at or near the center line between the side wall of the microchannel and the partition wall.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, when three or more discontinuous partition walls (22) are provided in the microchannel, the guide strip (16) is located at the center between the side wall of the microchannel and the partition wall. It is preferable to be provided at the position of the line or the vicinity thereof, and the position of the center line between the partition walls or the vicinity thereof.

  Hereinafter, the fine channel structure of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 13, within the microchannel (19), the microchannel depth (17) or less along the fluid traveling direction (27) at or near the two or more fluid boundaries (20). By forming a plurality of discontinuous partition walls (22) with respect to the fluid traveling direction (27) of the height of the fluid, the fluid is brought into contact with the partition wall (22) and there is a partition wall (22). In this case, the fluid can be separated, and if a plurality of the discontinuous partition walls (22) are formed along the fluid traveling direction (27) of the microchannel, contact and separation of the fluid are repeated. By doing so, the fluctuation of the position of the laminar flow interface due to the temporal fluctuation of the liquid feeding speed caused by the pump that feeds the fluid is suppressed, and the inner wall of the microchannel and the fluid to be fed Fluid wraparound (15) due to the difference in affinity can be prevented.

  However, if the fluctuation range of the position of the laminar flow interface exceeds a certain amount, the laminar flow interface that protrudes between adjacent partition walls is sheared by the partition walls as shown in FIG. Become mixed with other fluids. Furthermore, due to pressure fluctuations that occur when droplets are generated, even if the position of the laminar flow interface returns to the original position, the droplets continue for a certain period of time, causing a deterioration in the mixing rate.

  Therefore, in the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 17 to 20, by forming a continuous guide strip (16) along the fluid traveling direction, it becomes possible to send the fluid as a more stable laminar flow. The generation of droplets from the gaps in the walls can be prevented, and each fluid can be discharged from the fluid discharge port of the microchannel without mixing other fluids. Therefore, it is possible to completely stop the reaction or extraction caused by contact of the fluid in the microchannel at the fluid outlet, or to reuse the fluid once introduced into the microchannel.

  Here, the position of the partition wall (22) with respect to the width direction of the microchannel is not particularly limited, and can be changed according to the properties of the solution such as the flow rate, the flow rate, and the viscosity to be fed, but is introduced. In order to further stabilize the laminar flow interface of the fluid, it is preferably provided at the center position in the width direction of the microchannel or in the vicinity thereof. Furthermore, when two or more discontinuous partition walls are provided in the microchannel, the microchannels are even in the width direction, depending on the properties of the solution such as the flow rate, flow velocity, and viscosity of the fluid to be introduced. It is preferable to be provided at or near the position.

  Further, when three or more discontinuous partition walls (22) are provided in the microchannel, the guide strip (16) is positioned at or near the center line between the side wall of the microchannel and the partition wall as described above. And the position of the center line between the partition walls or in the vicinity thereof, as shown in FIG. 24 and FIG. 25, the position where the discontinuous partition wall (22) is provided is the width direction of the microchannel. As shown in FIG. 25 in relation to another partition wall (22) each of which is discontinuous with respect to the fluid traveling direction. It is good to provide in the position which becomes alternately. By providing such a discontinuous partition wall (22), the effect of the present invention is exhibited.

  On the other hand, when fluids with different viscosities are flowed when the partition wall is formed near the center with respect to the width direction of the flow path, the fluid is fed at a liquid feeding speed inversely proportional to the fluid viscosity from (Equation 7). If liquefied, a laminar flow interface can be formed in the vicinity of the partition wall. Further, the thickness (23) of the partition wall is not particularly limited, but is preferably about 3 to 10% of the flow path width so as not to disturb the liquid feeding itself. Further, the height (24) of the partition wall is not particularly limited as long as it is equal to or less than the flow path depth, but it is most preferable that the height (24) of the partition wall is equal to the flow path depth (17). The minimum value of the partition wall interval (25) is not particularly limited as long as the partition wall (22) is discontinuous. However, if the partition wall (22) is too short, the contact time of the fluid is shortened and reaction or extraction can be performed. Since it disappears, about 50 micrometers or more are preferable.

  In addition, the length (26) of the partition wall shown in FIG. 17 is more preferably equal to or less than the interval (25) between adjacent partition walls. That is, when the partition wall length (26) is shorter than the interval (25) between adjacent partition walls, the contact time of the fluid, that is, the reaction time and the extraction time can be set longer in the length of the minute channel. it can. Note that the length (25) of the partition wall is 50 μm or more, so that a laminar flow interface is stably formed, and each fluid is separated and discharged without being mixed with other fluids at the discharge port. Is more preferable.

  The position of the guide strip (16) with respect to the width direction of the microchannel is not particularly limited as long as it is continuously provided along the fluid traveling direction. The height of the guide strip is not particularly limited, but it is provided to prevent the introduced fluid from moving the position of the laminar flow interface due to pressure fluctuation and to send the fluid as a more stable laminar flow. Therefore, it is necessary to have a height sufficient to obtain the effect of suppressing the movement of the position of the laminar flow interface, and at least about 10% of the channel depth is preferable. On the other hand, if it is too high, movement due to the diffusion of molecules in the fluid is hindered, so about 50% or less of the channel depth is preferable.

  The microchannel substrate having the microchannel as described above can be manufactured by directly processing a substrate material such as glass, quartz, ceramic, silicon, or metal or resin by machining, laser processing, etching, or the like. . Further, when the substrate material is ceramic or resin, it can also be manufactured by molding using a mold such as a metal having a channel shape. Generally, the microchannel substrate is laminated and integrated with a cover body having a small hole with a diameter of about several millimeters at a position corresponding to the fluid inlet, the fluid outlet, and the outlet of each microchannel. Used as a microchannel structure. As a method for joining the cover body and the micro-channel substrate, when the substrate material is ceramics or metal, soldering or adhesive is used, or when the substrate material is glass, quartz, or resin, it is a hundred to several hundreds of degrees A bonding method suitable for each substrate material is used, such as thermal bonding by applying a load at a high temperature, or when the substrate material is silicon, by activating the surface by washing and bonding at room temperature.

  According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

  The microchannel structure of the present invention includes two or more inlets for introducing a fluid, an introduction channel communicating with the inlets, and a microstream that communicates with a merging portion where the introduction channel merges and flows the introduced fluid. A microchannel structure having a channel, two or more discharge channels having a branch portion that separates a fluid introduced and communicated with the microchannel, and a discharge port that communicates with the channel, The microchannel is provided with a discontinuous partition wall having a height substantially equal to the height of the microchannel at or near a laminar flow interface formed by two or more introduced fluids. In addition, convex guide strips that are continuous at positions on both sides of the partition wall are provided on the bottom surface of the microchannel. By doing so, the fluctuation of the position of the laminar flow interface due to the temporal fluctuation of the liquid feeding speed caused by the pump that feeds the fluid is suppressed, and the inner wall of the microchannel and the fluid to be fed Fluid wraparound due to the difference in affinity can be prevented, and each fluid can be discharged from the fluid discharge port of the microchannel without mixing with other fluid.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to these examples, and can be arbitrarily changed without departing from the scope of the invention.
Example 1
18 to 20 show conceptual diagrams of the microchannel structure used in the first embodiment. The shape of the microchannel is such that the fluid introduction port side and the fluid discharge port side are branched into two microchannels in a Y shape, and within the microchannel, as shown in FIG. On the other hand, a discontinuous partition wall (22) along the fluid traveling direction having a height equal to the depth of the microchannel was formed at substantially the center. Furthermore, one continuous guide strip (16) along the fluid traveling direction was formed at approximately the center in the width direction of each channel through which each fluid flows, which was partitioned by the partition wall in the micro channel. The manufactured microchannel has a width (9) of 100 μm, a depth (17) of 20 μm, and a length of 30 mm. The space | interval (25) of a partition wall and the length (26) of a partition wall are 100 micrometers. The thickness (23) of the partition wall in the channel width direction is about 5 μm. The height of the guide strip is 5 μm. The micro channel is formed on a Pyrex (registered trademark) substrate of 70 mm × 38 mm × 1 mm (thickness) by general photolithography and wet etching, and is located at a position corresponding to two fluid inlets and two fluid outlets. The micro flow path was sealed by joining the Pyrex (registered trademark) substrate of the same size provided with a small hole having a diameter of 0.6 mm by a mechanical processing means, and using a cover body by heat fusion.

  Water and cyclohexane were fed to the microchannel structure at an equal feeding rate between 1 μL / min and 100 μL / min, respectively. The viscosity of water at 20 ° C. is 1.002 [mPa · s], and the viscosity of cyclohexane is 0.979 [mPa · s], which are substantially equal. Water is fed from the inlet A (28) and cyclohexane is fed from the inlet B (29) under the above conditions, and the amount of water discharged from the outlet C (30) and the amount of mixed cyclohexane are determined as the outlet D. The amount of cyclohexane discharged from (31) and the amount of mixed water were weighed and measured with a graduated cylinder, and the results are shown in Table 1.

  Table 1 shows the mixing rate at each feeding speed under constant speed conditions as the mixing rate (%) of the organic phase into the aqueous phase and the mixing rate (%) of the aqueous phase into the organic phase. The flow rate is 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 20, 50, 100 μL / min.

From this result, a mixing rate of less than 10% was realized in a wide range of at least 1 to 100 μL / min.
(Example 2)
Cyclohexane was fed to the microchannel structure used in Example 1 at a fixed feed rate of 8 μL / min, and water was sent at 1 μL / min to 50 μL / min while changing the feed rate. Liquid. That is, the liquid feed rate ratio of water to cyclohexane is 0.125 (= 1 [μL / min] / 8 [μL / min]) to 6.250 (= 50 [μL / min] / 8 [μL / min]). In between, water is fed from the inlet A and cyclohexane is fed from the inlet B under the above conditions, and the amount of water discharged from the outlet C and the amount of mixed cyclohexane are discharged to the cyclohexane discharged from the outlet D. The amount of water and the amount of mixed water were weighed and measured with a graduated cylinder, and the results are shown in Table 2.

  Table 2 shows the mixing ratio at each liquid feeding speed ratio as the mixing ratio (%) of the organic phase to the aqueous phase and the mixing ratio (%) of the aqueous phase to the organic phase. Are 0.125, 0.375, 0.625, 1.000, 1.250, 2.500, 6.250.

From this result, the mixing rate of less than 10% was realized in a wide range of at least 0.375 to 2.500.
(Comparative Example 1)
The conceptual diagram of the microchannel structure used for the comparative example was shown in FIGS. The shape of the microchannel is such that the fluid inlet port side and the fluid outlet port branch into two microchannels in a Y shape, and the microchannel has a width direction as shown in FIG. On the other hand, a guide strip (16) of about 20% or less of the channel depth (17) was formed at the bottom (18) of the microchannel almost at the center. The manufactured microchannel has a width (9) of 100 μm, a depth (17) of 20 μm, and a length of 30 mm. The height of the guide strip is 4 μm. The micro channel is formed on a Pyrex (registered trademark) substrate of 70 mm × 38 mm × 1 mm (thickness) by general photolithography and wet etching, and is located at a position corresponding to two fluid inlets and two fluid outlets. The micro flow path was sealed by joining the Pyrex (registered trademark) substrate of the same size provided with a small hole having a diameter of 0.6 mm by a mechanical processing means, and using a cover body by heat fusion.

  In the same manner as in Example 1, water and cyclohexane were fed into the microchannel structure at an equal liquid feed rate between 1 μL / min and 100 μL / min. Water is fed from the inlet A (28) and cyclohexane is fed from the inlet B (29) under the above conditions, and the amount of water discharged from the outlet C (30) and the amount of mixed cyclohexane are determined as the outlet D. The amount of cyclohexane discharged from (31) and the amount of mixed water were weighed and measured with a graduated cylinder, and the measurement results are shown in Table 1. As a result, it was not possible to achieve a mixing rate of less than 10% under any liquid feeding conditions.

Further, in the same manner as in Example 2, the microchannel structure was fed at a liquid feed rate at which cyclohexane was fixed at 8 μL / min, and water was sent between 1 μL / min and 50 μL / min. The liquid was sent at a different liquid speed. That is, the liquid feed rate ratio of water to cyclohexane is 0.125 (= 1 [μL / min] / 8 [μL / min]) to 6.250 (= 50 [μL / min] / 8 [μL / min]). Between the inlet A (28) and cyclohexane from the inlet B (29) under the above conditions, the amount of water discharged from the outlet C (30) and the amount of mixed cyclohexane. The amount of cyclohexane discharged from the discharge port D (31) and the amount of mixed water were measured by measuring with a graduated cylinder, and the measurement results are shown in Table 2. As a result, it was not possible to achieve a mixing rate of less than 10% under any liquid feeding conditions.
(Comparative Example 2)
The conceptual diagram of the microchannel structure used for the comparative example was shown in FIGS. The shape of the microchannel is such that the fluid inlet port side and the fluid outlet port branch into two microchannels in a Y shape, and within the microchannel, as shown in FIG. On the other hand, a discontinuous partition wall (22) along the fluid traveling direction having a height equal to the depth of the microchannel was formed at substantially the center. The manufactured microchannel has a width (9) of 100 μm, a depth (17) of 20 μm, and a length of 30 mm. The space | interval (25) of a partition wall and the length (26) of a partition wall are 100 micrometers. The thickness (23) of the partition wall in the channel width direction is about 5 μm. The micro channel is formed on a Pyrex (registered trademark) substrate of 70 mm × 38 mm × 1 mm (thickness) by general photolithography and wet etching, and is located at a position corresponding to two fluid inlets and two fluid outlets. The micro flow path was sealed by joining the Pyrex (registered trademark) substrate of the same size provided with a small hole having a diameter of 0.6 mm by a mechanical processing means, and using a cover body by heat fusion.

  In the same manner as in Example 1, water and cyclohexane were fed into the microchannel structure at an equal liquid feed rate between 1 μL / min and 100 μL / min. Water is fed from the inlet A (28) and cyclohexane is fed from the inlet B (29) under the above conditions, and the amount of water discharged from the outlet C (30) and the amount of mixed cyclohexane are determined as the outlet D. The amount of cyclohexane discharged from (31) and the amount of mixed water were weighed and measured with a graduated cylinder, and the measurement results are shown in Table 1. From this result, the range of the liquid feeding speed that achieves a mixing rate of less than 10% was limited to a narrow range of 3 to 50 μL / min.

  Further, in the same manner as in Example 2, the microchannel structure was fed at a liquid feed rate at which cyclohexane was fixed at 8 μL / min, and water was sent between 1 μL / min and 50 μL / min. The liquid was sent at a different liquid speed. That is, the liquid feed rate ratio of water to cyclohexane is 0.125 (= 1 [μL / min] / 8 [μL / min]) to 6.250 (= 50 [μL / min] / 8 [μL / min]). Between the inlet A (28) and cyclohexane from the inlet B (29) under the above conditions, the amount of water discharged from the outlet C (30) and the amount of mixed cyclohexane. The amount of cyclohexane discharged from the discharge port D (31) and the amount of mixed water were measured by measuring with a graduated cylinder, and the measurement results are shown in Table 2. As a result, the range of the liquid feeding speed ratio that achieves a mixing rate of less than 10% was limited to a narrow range of 0.625 to 1.250.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows the laminar flow in a Y-shaped microchannel. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the laminar flow in a double Y-shaped microchannel. It is an example of the conceptual diagram which shows a mode that the position of a laminar flow interface fluctuates. It is an example of the conceptual diagram which shows a mode that the position of a laminar flow interface fluctuates. It is an example of the conceptual diagram which shows a mode that the position of a laminar flow interface fluctuates. It is A-A 'sectional drawing of the micro channel in FIG. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating Hagen-Poiseuille's formula. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating Hagen-Poiseuille's formula. It is a conceptual diagram of the microchannel structure used for the comparative example 1, and is an enlarged view of the broken-line circle part of the microchannel of FIG. It is the conceptual diagram of the microchannel structure used for the comparative example 1, and is the figure which showed the structure of the microchannel. It is B-B 'sectional drawing of the microchannel in FIG. It is C-C 'sectional drawing of the microchannel in FIG. It is a conceptual diagram of the microchannel structure used for the comparative example 2, and is an enlarged view of the broken-line circle | round | yen part of the microchannel of FIG. It is the conceptual diagram of the microchannel structure used for the comparative example 2, and is the figure which showed the structure of the microchannel. It is D-D 'sectional drawing of the microchannel in FIG. It is E-E 'sectional drawing of the microchannel in FIG. It is a conceptual diagram of the microchannel structure used for the Example, It is an enlarged view of the broken-line circle | round | yen part of the microchannel of FIG. It is the conceptual diagram of the microchannel structure used for the Example, and is the figure which showed the structure of the microchannel. It is F-F 'sectional drawing of the microchannel in FIG. It is G-G 'sectional drawing of the microchannel in FIG. It is a conceptual diagram which shows a mode that it mixes in the state of a droplet from the clearance gap between partition walls. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the aspect of this invention, and is a figure which shows the example formed in the location in which a guide stripe | line forms a laminar flow interface. It is a conceptual diagram showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention, the guide strip is formed continuously from the inlet and the introduction channel and the micro channel communicating with them, from the branch part to the discharge channel communicating with the outlet. It is a figure which shows the example. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the aspect of this invention, and is a figure which shows the example of the flow-path structure in the case of forming three or more laminar flows stably. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the aspect of this invention, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the example of the flow-path structure in the case of forming three or more laminar flows stably, An introduction flow path with which a guide strip | line communicates with them It is a figure which shows the example formed continuously from the micro flow path and the discharge flow path communicating from the branch part to the discharge port.

Explanation of symbols

1: Water phase 2: Organic phase 3: Laminar flow interface 4: Branching part 5: Linear velocity 6: Diameter 7: Horizontal circular tube 8: End of circular tube 9: Width of micro flow channel 10: Channel length 11: Fluid introduction Port 12: Fluid discharge port 13: Fluid A
14: Fluid B
15: Circulation of fluid 16: Guide strip 17: Channel depth 18: Bottom of microchannel 19: Microchannel 20: Fluid boundary 21: Channel width 22: Partition wall 23: Partition wall thickness 24: Partition Wall height 25: Partition wall interval 26: Partition wall length 27: Fluid traveling direction 28: Inlet A
29: Introduction B
30: Discharge port C
31: Discharge port D
32: Substrate 33: Fluid width 34: Cover pair 35: Small hole 36: Thickness of guide strip 37: Droplet

Claims (4)

Two or more inlets for introducing a fluid, an introduction channel communicating with them, a microchannel that communicates with a merging portion where the introduction channel merges and flows the introduced fluid, and communicates with the microchannel And a micro flow channel structure having two or more discharge flow channels having a branching portion for separating a fluid to be introduced and a discharge port communicating with the two or more discharge flow channels, wherein the micro flow channel is introduced into the micro flow channel. Discontinuous partition walls having a height substantially equal to the height of the microchannel are provided at or near the position of the laminar flow interface formed by two or more fluids, and positions on both sides of the partition wall A microchannel structure in which a convex guide strip that is continuous with the microchannel is provided on the bottom surface of the microchannel. The microchannel structure according to claim 1, wherein the guide strip is provided at a position of a center line between the side wall and the partition wall of the microchannel or in the vicinity thereof. The microchannel structure according to claim 1, wherein the guide strip is provided at or near the center line between the side wall and the partition wall of the microchannel and at or near the centerline between the partition walls. body. The microchannel according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the guide strip is continuously provided from the introduction port and the introduction channel communicating with them to the discharge channel and the discharge port via the microchannel. Structure.

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