Optimal Droplet Size Research Articles

Optimizing Optical Dielectrophoretic (ODEP) Performance: Position- and Size-Dependent Droplet Manipulation in an Open-Chamber Oil Medium.

An optimization study is presented to enhance optical dielectrophoretic (ODEP) performance for effective manipulation of an oil-immersed droplet in the floating electrode optoelectronic tweezers (FEOET) device. This study focuses on understanding how the droplet's position and size, relative to light illumination, affect the maximum ODEP force. Numerical simulations identified the characteristic length (Lc) of the electric field as a pivotal factor, representing the location of peak field strength. Utilizing 3D finite element simulations, the ODEP force is calculated through the Maxwell stress tensor by integrating the electric field strength over the droplet's surface and then analyzed as a function of the droplet's position and size normalized to Lc. Our findings reveal that the optimal position is xopt= Lc+ r, (with r being the droplet radius), while the optimal droplet size is ropt = 5Lc, maximizing light-induced field perturbation around the droplet. Experimental validations involving the tracking of droplet dynamics corroborated these findings. Especially, a droplet sized at r = 5Lc demonstrated the greatest optical actuation by performing the longest travel distance of 13.5 mm with its highest moving speed of 6.15 mm/s, when it was initially positioned at x0= Lc+ r = 6Lc from the light's center. These results align well with our simulations, confirming the criticality of both the position (xopt) and size (ropt) for maximizing ODEP force. This study not only provides a deeper understanding of the position- and size-dependent parameters for effective droplet manipulation in FEOET systems, but also advances the development of low-cost, disposable, lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices for multiplexed biological and biochemical analyses.

Investigating the effect of MnCl2 salt concentration on the droplet size and stability in a microfluidics droplets generation system

In the realm of droplet-based microfluidic systems, achieving optimal droplet size, shape, and distribution is crucial for efficient mass transfer and reaction performance. Traditionally, surfactants have been employed to modify interfacial properties and control droplet characteristics; however, they can impact reaction environments. A novel approach gaining traction is the creation of surfactant-free droplets, where additives are minimized to preserve the liquids' inherent properties. This study aims to investigate the creation of surfactant-free emulsions using divalent ions derived from Manganese(II) chloride (MnCl2) solutions. Emulsions play a vital role in various industries, but their stability often relies on surfactants. To address this, the research examines the influence of MnCl2 concentrations (ranging from 0.2 M to 1.0 M) on droplet dynamics within an oil phase using microfluidic analysis. Notably, a distinctive non-linear correlation between ion concentration and droplet size emerges, challenging conventional assumptions. This observation highlights the intricate and nuanced interfacial interactions governing surfactant-free emulsions, showcasing potential opportunities for designing stable emulsions without traditional surfactants. For instance, droplet sizes decreased from 171 µm to 138 µm as MnCl2 concentration increased from 0.2 M to 0.4 M, demonstrating this non-linear trend. However, further increases in MnCl2 concentration to 0.8 M and 1.0 M resulted in minimal changes in droplet size.

Atomization Characteristics of a Hollow Cone Nozzle for Air-Assisted Variable-Rate Spraying

During variable-rate spraying in orchards, the atomization characteristics and distribution of droplets in and out of the target area can be affected by the sprayer pressure. In this study, a variable-rate spraying control system test bench was designed, and a hollow cone nozzle QY82.317.22 was selected. The droplet atomization characteristics, including volume median diameter (Dv0.5), the relative span of the droplet spectrum, and droplet velocity at different spray pressures, were studied at distances ranging from 0.4 to 2.4 m from the nozzle orifice with an air velocity of 10 m/s at the nozzle orifice position. The effects of longitudinal distance, transverse distance, and spray pressure on Dv0.5, relative span, and droplet velocity were analysed by multiple linear regression analysis, and the regression model was established. The experimental results show that at a longitudinal distance of 1.8 m, Dv0.5 ranges from 120 to 150 μm, meeting the requirements for optimal droplet size for controlling crawling pests and plant diseases on crop leaves; and the relative span is 1.2, indicating a wide droplet spectrum. At different pressure conditions, Dv0.5 decreases as pressure increases. Through multiple linear regression analysis, the longitudinal distance, the transverse distance, and the spray pressure have high significance for Dv0.5 and the droplet velocity. The longitudinal distance and the transverse distance have a highly significant effect on the relative span. In this study, the mathematical relational model of droplet characteristics at different spatial positions and different pressures was established, providing an agricultural reference for predicting the droplet characteristics at different spatial positions to achieve the best application effect. This model is conducive to the effective use of pesticides and reduces environmental pollution.

Dopant ionization and efficiency of ion and electron ejection from helium nanodroplets.

Photoionization spectroscopy and mass spectrometry of doped helium (He) nanodroplets rely on the ability to efficiently detect ions and/or electrons. Using a commercial quadrupole mass spectrometer and a photoelectron-photoion coincidence spectrometer, we systematically measure yields of ions and electrons created in pure and doped He nanodroplets in a wide size range and in two ionization regimes-direct ionization and secondary ionization after resonant photoexcitation of the droplets. For two different types of dopants (oxygen molecules, O2, and lithium atoms, Li), we infer the optimal droplet size to maximize the yield of ejected ions. When dopants are ionized by charge-transfer to photoionized He nanodroplets, the highest yield of O2 and Li ions is detected for a mean size of ∼5×104 He atoms per nanodroplet. When dopants are Penning ionized via photoexcitation of the He droplets, the highest yield of O2 and Li ions is detected for ∼103 and ∼105 He atoms per droplet, respectively. At optimum droplet sizes, the detection efficiency of dopant ions in proportion to the number of primary photoabsorption events is up to 20% for charge-transfer ionization of O2 and 2% for Li, whereas for Penning ionization it is 1% for O2 and 4% for Li. Our results are instrumental in determining optimal conditions for mass spectrometric studies and photoionization spectroscopy of molecules and complexes isolated in He nanodroplets.

Effects of Water Mist Concentration and Droplet Size on Gas-Liquid Two-Phase Detonation

ABSTRACT The effects of water mist concentration and droplet size on the inhibition of gas-liquid two-phase detonation are studied. The characteristics of the structure of the detonation wave, the interaction between the detonation wave and water mist, and the mechanism of water mist inhibition are analyzed. The interaction between iso-octane gas-liquid detonation wave and water mist results in the inhibition of the chemical reaction, and the decrease of combustion rate is the basic reason for the inhibition of water mist. Under the action of detonation waves, water mist flows and evaporates at high velocity, and the heat absorbed by evaporation reduces the chemical reaction rate of fuel to achieve effective inhibition of the detonation. The flame front and pressure wave front of the detonation wave are basically synchronous; after the detonation wave is effectively inhibited by water mist, the length between the pressure wave front and flame front increases gradually. The detonation inhibition effect improves with increasing water mist concentration in the range of 120–350 g/m3 in the model. The inhibition of detonation increases slightly as the size of water mist decreases in the range of 50 μm-200 μm. The optimal concentration range and droplet size range of water mist to inhibit explosion are obtained. The achievements provide an important reference for the design of explosion inhibition by water mist in hazardous explosion areas and have potential applications.

Refrigerant overheating in the compression circuit air heat pump

The authors considered the processes of phase transformation of the working fluid in the compression unit of the freon circuit in the section “thermal expansion valve (TEV) - evaporator - compressor”. By adjusting the expansion valve under the conditions of the bubble mode of boiling of the refrigerant, the evaporation process takes place, accompanied by the achievement of a certain excess of steam temperature. Determination of rheological parameters (droplet size, vapor viscosity, refrigerant droplet vaporization rate) is necessary so that when moving from the throttle valve (TEV) to the compressor inlet, they have time to go into the vapor phase or return to the mass of boiling liquid. The article presents the results of an analytical calculation of the parameters of the kinetics of evaporation of Freon droplets as they move in a steam flow. The results of such an analysis make it possible to formulate requirements for the optimal droplet size in the created vapor-liquid mixture in order to ensure their maximum evaporation and the required thermal efficiency of the AHP as a whole. The established patterns of evaporation of refrigerant droplets can be used to select the design and operation of the AHP.

On Some Theoretical Aspects of The Evaporation Process of a Droplet and Its Optimal Size When Extinguishing Fires

We are proposing a model mathematical description of droplet evaporation using the kinetic approach. We have obtained the basic equation of the theory by using the law of conserving the full power of the vapor–liquid system, which has not been done before. We have found the range of droplet sizes at which it is stable. We have given a comparison of the obtained results with the known traditional ones. We have given numerical estimates for the critical size of the fine-dispersed phase up to the value of which ordinary evaporation takes place (that is for Knudsen number Kn=lR, inequality Kn≪1 must be fulfilled, where l− is the free path of the molecule and R− is the droplet radius). We have given the optimal droplet size which is the most effective from the point of view of technical use in extinguishing flammable oil transformers.

New insight into the role of the emulsified diesel droplet size in low rank coal flotation

Low-rank coal (LRC) is difficult to float using oily collectors due to poor floatability resulted from its abundant oxygen-containing groups. In recent years, numbers of emulsified collectors have been used to enhance LRC flotation. In this study, diesel-Span80 mixed collectors were added to high shear disperser producing emulsified diesel (ED) with a droplet size ranging from 12.51 to 4.58 µm to discuss the effects of droplets size on LRC flotation. The adsorption and spreading of ED on coal particle surfaces was evaluated by total organic carbon analyzer (TOC) and fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The interaction between the oil droplets and coal particles was conducted using adhesion force measurement system. The flotation results indicated clean product obtained by using ED as the collector had the higher combustible recovery and lower ash content than conventional diesel (CD). It was interesting to find an optimal droplet size (7.68 μm) at which the ED flotation performance was maximized and beyond which the flotation performance deteriorated. The FTIR, adsorption amount and adhesion force results were all well consistent with the flotation results. The effect of ED droplet size on LRC flotation is controlled by ED dispersibility and concentration of adsorbed surfactant molecules on each ED droplet surface, playing a critical role in determining the optimal droplet size which delivers the largest hydrophobicity, maximum adsorption amount, highest maximum adhesion force and hence the best flotation performance.

Synthetic aperture rainbow refractometry.

This work proposed a synthetic aperture rainbow refractometry (SARR) by synthesizing rainbow signals of the same droplet with dual-wavelength laser beams, in order to increase the aperture of rainbow refractometry. In this way, the SARR can apply to long distance and small droplets measurement. An achromatic imaging system, which simultaneously records while separating the two rainbow signals in two channels of a color image, is elaborately designed. A data processing algorithm is developed to retrieve the optimal droplet refractive index and size. Numerical simulations of different droplet sizes from 10 μm to 200 μm certify the viability of the SARR. Proof-of-concept experiments of micron-sized ethanol droplets are performed with 1650 mm measurement distance. Results show that the SARR can accurately measure droplet refractive index and size with uncertainties of 2.3 × 10-4 and 2μm, respectively. The feasibility and accuracy of the proposed SARR are successfully demonstrated, paving the way for rainbow refractometry applied to large-scale industrial applications.

Physically emulsifying oily collectors to produce optimal droplet sizes for flotation

Chemical emulsifiers have been used in laboratories to improve the efficiency of oily collectors by reducing their droplet sizes, but their application in flotation plants is limited due to their strong frothing abilities. In this study, recently developed physical emulsification techniques were used to emulsify diesel for coal flotation and diesel emulsions with a droplet size ranging from 12.2 to 0.3 μm were successfully produced. It was interesting to find an optimal droplet size at which the flotation performance was maximized and beyond which the flotation selectivity deteriorated. A smaller optimal droplet size was identified for the coal sample with a higher degree of surface oxidation. Theoretical modelling showed that the reduction of oil droplet size decreased the collision rate of oil with coal particles, but increased the oil adhesion efficiency on particle surfaces, the opposite effects leading to an optimal droplet size to provide a maximum oil adsorption rate. The decrease of surface hydrophobicity significantly reduced the oil adhesion efficiency and the adsorption rate, and therefore a smaller optimal droplet size was required for coal particles with lower surface hydrophobicity. The results from this study can guide the flotation plants to identify optimal oil droplet sizes for their coal samples and a suitable emulsification technology to produce the optimal oil droplet sizes to maximise the flotation performance.

A tradeoff between physical encounters and consumption determines an optimal droplet size for microbial degradation of dispersed oil

Immiscible hydrocarbons occur in the ocean water column as droplets of varying diameters. Although microbial oil degradation is a central process in the remediation of hydrocarbon pollution in marine environments, the relationship between droplet size distribution and oil degradation rates by bacteria remains unclear, with a conflicting history of laboratory studies. Despite this knowledge gap, the use of chemical dispersants in oil spill response and mitigation is based on the rationale that increasing the surface-area-to-volume ratio of droplets will enhance net bacterial biodegradation rates. We demonstrate that this intuitive argument does not apply to most natural marine environments, where the abundance of oil droplets is much lower than in laboratory experiments and droplet-bacteria encounters are the limiting factor. We present a mechanistic encounter-consumption model to predict the characteristic time for oil degradation by marine bacteria as a function of the initial oil concentration, the distribution of droplet sizes, and the initial abundance of oil-degrading bacteria. We find that the tradeoff between the encounter time and the consumption time leads to an optimal droplet size larger than the average size generated by the application of dispersants. Reducing droplet size below this optimum can increase the persistence of oil droplets in the environment from weeks to years. The new perspective granted by this biophysical model of biodegradation that explicitly accounts for oil–microbe encounters changes our understanding of biodegradation particularly in the deep ocean, where droplets are often small and oil concentrations low, and explains degradation rate discrepancies between laboratory and field studies.

Continuous production of nanoemulsion for skincare product using a 3D-printed rotor-stator hydrodynamic cavitation reactor

In this study, nanoemulsions for skincare products were continuously produced using a hydrodynamic cavitation reactor (HCR) designed with a rotor and stator. The key component of this research is the utilization of a 3D-printed rotor in a HCR for the production of an oil-in-water nanoemulsion. Response surface methodology was used to determine the process conditions, such as speed of the rotor, flow rate, as well as, Span60, Tween60, and mineral oil concentrations, for generating the optimal droplet size in the nanoemulsion. The results showed that a droplet size of 366.4 nm was achieved under the recommended conditions of rotor speed of 3500 rpm, flow rate of 3.3 L/h, Span60 concentration of 2.36 wt%, Tween60 concentration of 3.00 wt%, and mineral oil concentration of 1.76 wt%. Moreover, the important characteristics for consideration in skincare products, such as polydispersity index, pH, zeta potential, viscosity, stability, and niacin released from formulations, were also assessed. For the niacin release profile of emulsion and nanoemulsion formulations, different methods, such as magnetic stirring, ultrasound, and hydrodynamic cavitation, were compared. The nanoemulsion formulations provided a greater cumulative release from the formulation than the emulsion. Particularly, the nanoemulsion generated using the HCR provided the largest cumulative release from the formulation after 12 h. Therefore, the present study suggests that nanoemulsions can be created by means of hydrodynamic cavitation, which reduces the droplet size, as compared to that generated using other techniques. The satisfactory results of this study indicate that the rotor-stator-type HCR is a potentially cost-effective technology for nanoemulsion production.

Quantitative Analysis of Droplet Size Distribution in Plant Protection Spray Based on Machine Learning Method

Spray droplet size is the main factor affecting the deposition uniformity on a target crop. Studying the influence of multiple factors on the droplet size distribution as well as the evaluation method is of great significance for improving the utilization of pesticides. In this paper, volume median diameter (VMD) and relative span (RS) were selected to evaluate the droplet size distribution under different hollow cone nozzles, flow rates and spatial positions, and the quantitative models of VMD and RS were established based on machine learning methods. The results showed that support vector regression (SVR) had excellent results for VMD (Rc = 0.9974, Rp = 0.9929), while multi-layer perceptron (MLP) had the best effect for RS (Rc = 0.9504, Rp = 0.9537). The correlation coefficient of the prediction set is higher than 0.95, showing the excellent ability of machine learning on predicting the droplet size distribution. In addition, the visualization images of the droplet size distribution were obtained based on the optimal models, which provided intuitive guidance for realizing the uniform distribution of pesticide deposition. In conclusion, this study provides a novel and feasible method for quantitative evaluation of droplet size distribution and offers a theoretical basis for further determining appropriate operation parameters according to the optimal droplet size.

Knowledge and current practices of ICU nurses regarding aerosol therapy for patients treated with invasive mechanical ventilation: A nationwide cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to determine the knowledge and current practices of ICU nurses regarding aerosol therapy for patients with invasive mechanical ventilation in China. Aerosol therapy is a routine operation for intensive care unit (ICU) nurses; however, evidence of the knowledge and current practices of ICU nurses regarding aerosol therapy for patients with invasive mechanical ventilation is insufficient in China. A total of 433 hospitals in 92 cities (including 31 capital cities) in 31 provinces in China participated in the study. A questionnaire was used to investigate the knowledge and current practices of ICU nurses regarding aerosol therapy for patients treated with invasive mechanical ventilation, including 42 questions covering five aspects: sociodemographic information, aerosolisation devices, atomised drugs, atomisation operation and atomisation-related knowledge. Descriptive analyses of the distribution of the sample are reported as percentages and medians. Univariate and multivariate analysis was used to detect the factors of the interviewee's atomisation knowledge and practices scores. A STROBE checklist was used to guide the reporting of the research. Of the 1995 questionnaires that were returned, 1978 were analysed. Bronchodilators and glucocorticoids were the most frequently administered drugs. Seventy-four per cent of the total respondents reported placing a filter on the expiratory limb during aerosol therapy, and 47% of these reported that the filter was changed once a day. Only 13% of the respondents reported always turning the heating humidifier off during aerosol therapy, and 48% never did. Knowledge about the optimal droplet size or atomisation yield was poor. Work experience in the ICU and frequency of atomisation training were the independent influencing factors for atomisation knowledge and practice scores (F=279.653,p<.001;F=120.556,p<.001, respectively). The knowledge of ICU nurses about the optimal implementation of aerosol therapy is poor, and the current scientific knowledge about optimal implementation seemed to be applied infrequently. Atomisation-related training should be strengthened, especially for nurses with junior titles and with less work experience. Improving the level of ICU nurses' atomisation practice ability is helpful to ensure patient safety. In clinical work, atomisation expert consensus can be used to carry out relevant training and standardise atomisation operation.

Nozzle Selection and Adjuvant Impact on the Efficacy of Glyphosate and PPO-Inhibiting Herbicide Tank-Mixtures

PPO-inhibiting herbicides in combination with glyphosate for postemergence applications is a common approach to manage glyphosate- and ALS-inhibitor-resistant weeds. PPO-inhibitors can reduce glyphosate translocation when applied in tank-mixtures, but adjuvants may be used to overcome this effect. Additionally, optimal droplet size may be affected by tank-mixtures of different herbicides and it can be crucial to herbicide efficacy. Field and greenhouse studies were conducted to investigate the impact of nozzle selection and adjuvants on weed control and interactions when applying PPO-inhibitors (fomesafen or lactofen) alone or in tank-mixture with glyphosate to five weed species using six nozzle types. Ultra-coarse droplets were just as effective as medium droplets regardless of the spray solution, but have a lower likelihood of off-target movement. Tank-mixtures applied were consistently antagonistic to common lambsquarters, horseweed, and Palmer amaranth. Only fomesafen was antagonistic to kochia whereas synergistic interactions were observed when glyphosate plus lactofen were applied in combination with COC, DRA + COC, or NIS. Separate applications are advisable with herbicide- and weed-specific situations to avoid antagonism, which is necessary to achieve optimum weed control and maintain the effectiveness of PPO-inhibitors. Future research should continue to look at these important interactions across a wide range of weed species.

Aerosolized drug-loaded nanoparticles targeting migration inhibitory factors inhibit Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced inflammation and biofilm formation.

Aim: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine, which has been shown to promote disease severity in cystic fibrosis. Methods: In this study, aerosolized drug-loaded nanoparticlescontaining SCD-19, an inhibitor of MIF's tautomerase enzymatic activity, were developed and characterized. Results: The aerosolized nanoparticles had an optimal droplet size distribution for deep lung deposition, with a high degree of biocompatibility and significant cellular uptake. Conclusion: For the first time, we have developed an aerosolized nano-formulation against MIF's enzymatic activity that achieved a significant reduction in the inflammatory response of macrophages, and inhibited Pseudomonas aeruginosabiofilm formation on airway epithelial cells. This represents a potential novel adjunctive therapy for the treatment of P. aeruginosa infection in cystic fibrosis.

Experimental Investigation of Microchannel Copper Plate Surfaces on Manufacturing and Wettability

In this study, static contact angle measurement experiments were conducted on smooth copper surface and microchannel structure surfaces under different droplet sizes. The results showed that shallow processing will more easily lead to the deformation of the processed interface. And the wettability of the microchannel surfaces with the same width and different depth were obviously different. Moreover, the contact angles on three microchannel surfaces were almost the same when the size of droplet was 12μl duo to action of gravity. The optimal droplet size is 9μl to measure contact angle in this study.

Evaluation of optimal droplet size for control of Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) with acifluorfen

AbstractAcifluorfen is a nonsystemic PPO-inhibiting herbicide commonly used for POST Palmer amaranth control in soybean, peanut, and rice across the southern United States. Concerns have been raised regarding herbicide selection pressure and particle drift, increasing the need for application practices that optimize herbicide efficacy while mitigating spray drift. Field research was conducted in 2016, 2017, and 2018 in Mississippi and Nebraska to evaluate the influence of a range of spray droplet sizes [150 μm (Fine) to 900 μm (Ultra Coarse)], using acifluorfen to create a novel Palmer amaranth management recommendation using pulse width modulation (PWM) technology. A pooled site-year generalized additive model (GAM) analysis suggested that 150-μm (Fine) droplets should be used to obtain the greatest Palmer amaranth control and dry biomass reduction. Nevertheless, GAM models indicated that only 7.2% of the variability observed in Palmer amaranth control was due to differences in spray droplet size. Therefore, location-specific GAM analyses were performed to account for geographical differences to increase the accuracy of prediction models. GAM models suggested that 250-μm (Medium) droplets optimize acifluorfen efficacy on Palmer amaranth in Dundee, MS, and 310-μm (Medium) droplets could sustain 90% of maximum weed control. Specific models for Beaver City, NE, indicated that 150-μm (Fine) droplets provide maximum Palmer amaranth control, and 340-μm (Medium) droplets could maintain 90% of greatest weed control. For Robinsonville, MS, optimal Palmer amaranth control could be obtained with 370-μm (Coarse) droplets, and 90% maximum control could be sustained with 680 μm (Ultra Coarse) droplets. Differences in optimal droplet size across location could be a result of convoluted interactions between droplet size, weather conditions, population density, plant morphology, and soil fertility levels. Future research should adopt a holistic approach to identify and investigate the influence of environmental and application parameters to optimize droplet size recommendations.

Advancing the Zebrafish embryo test for endocrine disruptor screening using micro-injection: Ethinyl estradiol as a case study.

Fish (embryo) toxicity test guidelines are mostly based on aquatic exposures. However, in some cases, other exposure routes can be more practical and relevant. Micro-injection into the yolk of fish embryos could offer a particular advantage for administering hydrophobic compounds, such as many endocrine disruptors. Single-dose micro-injection was compared with continuous aquatic exposure in terms of compound accumulation and biological responses. 17α-Ethinyl estradiol (EE2) was used as a model compound. First, the optimal solvent and droplet size were optimized, and needle variation was assessed. Next, biological endpoints were evaluated. The accumulated internal dose of EE2 decreased over time in both exposure scenarios. Estrogen receptor activation was concentration/injected dose dependent, increased daily, and was related to esr2b transcription. Transcription of vitellogenin 1 (vtg1) and brain aromatase (cyp19a1b) was induced in both scenarios, but the cyp19a1b transcription pattern differed between routes. Injection caused an increase in cyp19a1b transcripts from 48 hours post fertilization (hpf) onward, whereas after aquatic exposure the main increase occurred between 96 and 120 hpf. Some malformations only occurred after injection, whereas others were present for both scenarios. We conclude that responses can differ between exposure routes and therefore micro-injection is not a direct substitute for, but can be complementary to aquatic exposure. Nevertheless, vtg1and cyp19a1b transcription and estrogen receptor activation are suitable biomarkers for endocrine disruptor screening in both scenarios. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:533-547. © 2018 SETAC.

Simulation of the microfluidic mixing and the droplet generation for 3D printing of nuclear fuels

This paper presents the computational fluid dynamics modeling of an additive manufacturing process that is candidate for the production of Gen IV nuclear reactor fuels. The modeled process combines the internal gelation to produce metal hydrous oxides with the 3D ceramic printing to create a green body from these gelled oxides as described by Pouchon (2016). The objective of the simulations is to optimize the process parameters: microfluidic mixing of the internal gelation reagents and generation of droplets of the mixed solutions. The simulations were performed using the OpenFOAM software, and to perform these simulations with the correct solution parameters, the properties of the fluids of interest were measured. The results show that a thorough mixing of the metal solution and the methenamine and urea mixture in a microfluidic mixer can be achieved in tens of milliseconds by either winding the mixing channel to create secondary flows or splitting the solutions inlets to yield additional diffusion interfaces. The optimal droplet size is achieved by using a mechanically vibrating 3D printing head that leads to a frequency-following Rayleigh instability. The results of the simulations suggest the parameters (micromixer geometry, flow rate, vibration frequency and others) that will optimize the mixing efficiency in a microfluidic mixer and the droplet generation process from a 3D printing head.