Patent ID: 9192907
Filing Date: 2015-11-24
Classification: B01J

Abstract:
1. A method for producing beads comprising the steps of: (i) forming a combined liquid composition and a first hydrophobic phase by combining (a) a liquid composition comprising a material capable of gelation; and (b) a first hydrophobic phase; (ii) subjecting the combined liquid composition and the first hydrophobic phase to emulsification in a first reactor by adding an external mechanical energy input of at least 100 Watt/L thereby creating an emulsion comprising individual droplets comprising the material capable of gelation in the first hydrophobic phase, wherein the material capable of gelation provides a discontinuous phase and the first hydrophobic phase provides a continuous phase; (iii) stabilising the droplets by transferring the emulsion obtained in step (ii) from the first reactor to a stabilisation reactor; and (iv) subjecting the emulsion in the stabilisation reactor to gelation conditions within 1 second or less after receiving the external mechanical energy input according to step (ii) sufficient to cause gelation of the material capable of gelation in the droplets to thereby form the beads.