Recent Advances in Nanoparticles Production by High Gravity Technology—from Fundamentals to Commercialization

Abstract

This paper reviewed our group work on the high gravity (Higee) technology and its applications to nanoparticles production, which is fulfilled in a rotating packed bed (RPB). Fundamentals of the fluid flow, mass transfer and micromixing in the RPB are discussed. Various pharmaceutical nanoparticles were prepared via reactive precipitation or anti-solvent precipitation in the RPB reactor. CaCO₃ nanoparticles dispersion in overbased petroleum calcium sulfonate was produced by in situ synthesis of amorphous nano CaCO₃ in microemulsions formed by neutral petroleum calcium sulfonate and CH₃OH in the RPB. Commercial production of CaCO₃ nanoparticles by the Higee technology has reached a throughput capacity of 36,000 t/y and a typical production line is illustrated and analyzed. As one example of the application of such commercially produced inorganic nanoparticles, polymer-based nanocomposites were produced by adding CaCO₃ nanoparticles into different polymer matrixes such as PVC, ABS, PP, etc., and it was observed that nano CaCO₃ significantly improved the mechanical properties of the polymer matrixes.