Open AccessMicroflow system promotes acetaminophen crystal nucleation
Author(s) -
Nishigaki Akari,
Maruyama Mihoko,
Numata Munenori,
Kanzaki Chisako,
Tanaka ShunIchi,
Yoshikawa Hiroshi Y.,
Imanishi Masayuki,
Yoshimura Masashi,
Mori Yusuke,
Takano Kazufumi
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
engineering in life sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.547
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1618-2863
pISSN - 1618-0240
DOI - 10.1002/elsc.202000021
Subject(s) - crystallization , nucleation , microchannel , mixing (physics) , materials science , laminar flow , metastability , crystal (programming language) , chemical engineering , microfluidics , solvent , crystal growth , protein crystallization , chemical physics , nanotechnology , chemistry , crystallography , thermodynamics , organic chemistry , computer science , programming language , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
It is known that interfaces have various impacts on crystallization from a solution. Here, we describe crystallization of acetaminophen using a microflow channel, in which two liquids meet and form a liquid–liquid interface due to laminar flow, resulting in uniform mixing of solvents on the molecular scale. In the anti‐solvent method, the microflow mixing promoted the crystallization more than bulk mixing. Furthermore, increased flow rate encouraged crystal formation, and a metastable form appeared under a certain flow condition. This means that interface management by the microchannel could be a beneficial tool for crystallization and polymorph control.