ＳＰＧ Membrane Emulsification
ＳＰＧ Technology Co., Ltd.
http://www.spg-techno.co.jp/
The characteristics of SPG membrane emulsification is shown in the diagram below compared
with emulsification by a high pressure homogenizer. As it indicates, the SPG membrane
emulsification yield uniform emulsion droplets in a wide range of size, which suggests
monodispersion can be obtained. Thus, in consideration of production quantity in manufacturing,
the membrane is able to obtain various sized droplets in emulsion at a constant rate of 90%.
However, emulsification using the homogenizer will result in polydispersion due to several sized
droplets exisiton in emulsion, which implies that it is impossible to maintain steady yield efficiency
and productivity in manufacturing. For example, about 90% yield rate applies to the emulsion
with average particle diameter of 0.8μm, however, producing 6μm emulsion droplets, the rate
dropts to about 20% because of its wide distribution as shown in the following diagram②.
① SPG membrane Emulsion particle diameter distribution
② High-pressure homogenizer made by other company (excerpt from the catalog)
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SPG Membrane Direct Emulsification
Disperse phase solution and continuous phase solution are prepared in a container respectively.
The disperse phase solution penetrate the SPG membrane producing uniform emulsion. The
continuous phase requires a slight current. The size of emulsion droplet will be about three
to four times bigger than that of the SPG pore .
Syringe type
Gas pressure type
8
8
1
1
2
2
3
5
3
5
4
4
6
6
7
7
1：S
Syringe for disperse phase
2：Disperse phase （Soybean oil）
3：Vial
Vial for continuous
continuous phase
1：Disperse
Disperse phase tank
2：Disperse phase （Soybean oil）
3：Container
Container for continuous
continuous phase
4：Continuous phase (contains an emulisifier)
5 ： SPG membrane
6 ： Stirring magnet
7：Stirrer 8:Pressure
8：Syringe pressure
4：Continuous phase (contains an emulisifier)
5：SPG membrane 6：Stirring magnet 7：Stirrer
8:Gas pressure
Principal
Disperse phase
SPG
current
Continuous phase
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SPG Membrane High Speed Emlsification
Emlsification(Premix)
mlsification(Premix)
The disperse phase solution and continuous phase solution premixed roughly is penetrated to
yield uniform emulsion droplets.
The diameter of emulsion will be smaller than once or twice the size of the spg pore diameter.
Syringe type
Gas pressure type
8
8
1
4
1
4
2
2
3
3
5
5
6
6
7
7
1： Syringe、2： Dispers phase（Soybean oil）
3：Glass vial、4：Continuous phase (contains
emulisifier) 5 ： SPG membrane 6 ： Stirring
magnet 7：Stirrer 8：Preesure
1：、Tank 2：Dispers phase（Soybean oil）
3：Continuous phase Container 4:Continuous
phase (contains an emulisifier) 5 ： SPG
membrane 6：Stirring magnet 7：Stirrer
8：Gas pressure
※ 6：Stirring magnet and 7：Stirrer may be used in case by case.
Disperse phase
Principal
Continuous phase
SPG
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SPG Membrane Emulsification apparatus
●SPGmembrane emulsification appartus（small to smaller size）
●Membrane emulisification homogenizer and SPG filter kit（for wo, for ow）
Second emulisification
First emulisification
●SPG Membrane Emulsification Pumping Devices, etc
SPG Memb.
SPG Memb.
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Example: how to start SPG membrane emulsification test
First of all, the stability of emulsion needs to be confirmed by stirring for compsition of
dispersion/continious phase.
Adding
Stirring
Settled
1
2
1：Dispersion phase
2：Continuous phase
disribution
（contains surfactant）
SPG pumping connector
（disposable）
1
Dp
2
separated
stablized
Dispersion phase and
Contineous phase
disribution
Recheck
Dp
Pressuring by
syringe
1
SPG memb.emulsification
（SPGchangable type）
SPG filter kit
（disposable）
disribution
Dp
Gas pressure
1
2
2
disribution
Dp
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Searching for method
method of emulsion mass production using SPG membrane
For selecting the scale of SPG module, you will need to determine the process capacity per
SPG unit length(emulsification speed for disperse phase and pressure force) based on the
usage of bench scale. Also, SPG effective length for desire production condition (proccessing
amount of dispersion phase, proccessing time) can be obtained by multipling SPG length times
the number of SPG tube.
Example
Emulsive condition for dispherse phase using selected SPG pore size is examined by the SPG
membrnae emulsification kit.
SPG Internal Pressure Formula micro kit
SPG effective length １cm
SPG High Speed Minikit
SPG effective length １１cm
Pressure gauge
(Minute) regulator
Gas pressure
Tank for Continuous
phase
Disperse phase tank
SPG module
Continuous phase
SPG module
Stirrer
Circulating pump
Process Capacity ①
Assuming: The SPG pore diameter 10μm
Tank for Continuous
SPG effective length 1cm
phase
Emulsification speed 10ml/(hours・cm)
Yield condition ①
Process amount of disperse phase =10ℓ, Time required for the process =4hours
From the above condition,
(Process amount of disperse phase =10ℓ）/(Emulsification speed10ml/time・cm)＝1000hours・cm
1000hours・cm/( Time required for the process= 4hours)＝250cm＝25cm
25cm×
25cm×10tubes
10tubes Modules
Modules
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Photos for SPG Membrane Emulsification Equipment （MedMed-sized）
sized）
Disperse phase tank
Continuous phase tank
SPG module
Disperse phase tank
Continuous phase tank
SPG module
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2ℓ
6ℓ
L250×7tubes
5ℓ
25ℓ
L500×30tubes
Basically, the structure of this model is the same as one of the SPG high speed minikit.
SPG membrane emulsification Equipment
(med-sized)
SPG module with the several tubes
Stirrer
Controller
panel
Disperse phase
tank
Contineous phase
tank
Gas pressure
Observation
window
SPG module
Circulation pump
Collecting Emulsion
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