SWITCHABLE WATER (SW): MICROFLUIDIC INVESTIGATION OF CO2-MEDIATED LIQUID-LIQUID PHASE SEPARATION

We report a microfluidic (MF) strategy for fundamental studies of CO2-mediated liquid-liquid phase separation. A single set of experiments, conducted in segmented flow, provided qualitative and quantitative information on the kinetics and completeness of water-tetrahydrofurane phase separation, the minimum amount of CO2 required for completion and the rate of CO2 uptake by liquid mixtures. This approach offers a unique capability to simultaneously explore complex concurrent processes. The wealth of information obtained from this study will facilitate rapid development and optimization of new additives for switchable solvents, and can be extended to other separation processes, e.g., extraction.