Xanthan Gum Solutions Research Articles

Experimental study on the flow and heat transfer behavior of polymer solutions in the closed liquid ring vacuum pump system

The closed liquid ring vacuum pump system, which mainly includes the liquid ring vacuum pump and the heat exchanger, is widely used for gas pumping in various industries. In this paper, the energy saving effect in the liquid ring vacuum pump and the flow and heat transfer behavior in the shell-and-tube heat exchanger are investigated for aqueous solutions of rigid xanthan gum (XG) and flexible Polyacrylamide (PAM), and the effects of the concentration, Reynolds number, polymer conformation and flow geometry on the flow behavior of polymer solutions are studied. Results show that, despite the significant differences in molecular conformation and rheological properties between XG and PAM, the similar energy saving rate, about 1.5 ∼ 17.5%, is obtained in the liquid ring vacuum pump. However, in the shell-and-tube heat exchanger, XG solutions exhibit the more obvious pressure drop enhancement and heat transfer reduction than that of PAM solutions for the same concentration. Furthermore, due to the polymer shear degradation, the shaft power in the liquid ring vacuum pump decreases first and then stabilizes, conversely, the flow resistance decreases and the flow rate increases in the heat exchanger. The great difference in the flow condition between the intense rotating gas–liquid two-phase flow field and the gentle liquid pipe flow causes the different flow behavior for XG and PAM solutions.

Axial thrust and power consumption of propellers in viscoelastic fluids exhibiting hysteresis effect

The hysteresis effect of propeller jets in viscoelastic fluids provides a new idea for improving the mixing process related to viscoelastic fluids, such as wastewater digestion. However, the application of this idea to industrial equipment requires a feasible method for flow pattern detection. This work aimed to investigate the hysteresis effect of propeller jets in viscoelastic xanthan gum solutions in terms of the torque and the axial thrust. The axial thrust and the torque were measured using a rheometer equipped with a marine propeller. Both the averaged and the dynamic results were analyzed. The axial thrust was found to be appropriate to distinguish the semi-radial and the axial patterns in the hysteresis range. The difference in torque between the two flow patterns at the same rotational speed in the hysteresis range is insignificant.

Experimental study on the influence of surfactants in compound solution on the wetting-agglomeration properties of bituminous coal dust

To investigate the effect of surfactants in compound solution on the wetting-agglomeration properties of the bituminous coal dust, this paper selected anionic surfactants SDS, SDBS and non-ionic surfactants APG0810 and PPG400 for compounding with agglomerated solutions 0.05 wt% XTG (xanthan gum). The sink test, surface tension test, viscosity test, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR) and scanning electron microscope(SEM) were used to investigate the wettability and agglomeration of the four compound solutions and analyze the agglomeration wetting mechanism. The results show that SDBS has the most obvious improvement in the wettability of compound solution. The surface tension of SDBS + 0.05 wt% XTG is 28.98 mN/m after CMC value and sinking rate will reach 14.29 mg/s with 0.6 wt% SDBS in compound solution; Furthermore, FTIR results showed that surface hydroxyl content of bituminous coal dust treated by 0.2 wt% SDBS + 0.05 wt% XTG solutions has increased 26.3% than that treated by 0.05 wt% XTG, which promoted the adsorption of xanthan gum molecules on the coal surface. The presence of surfactants decreases the viscosity and surface tension of compound solution, and xanthan gum–surfactants interaction will promote bituminous coal dust agglomeration effect. This agglomeration mechanism is mainly reflected in the distribution mechanism and bituminous coal dust can form to large agglomerates under this action.

Instrumental characteristics from extensional rheology and tribology of polysaccharide solutions.

Instrumental characteristics from extensional rheology and tribology for aqueous xanthan gum (XG) and locust bean gum (LBG) solutions were studied in the presence or absence of simulated saliva. Extensional viscosity was calculated from the filament shrinkage behavior using a capillary breakup extensional rheometer, whereas the friction coefficient was measured using a set-up consisting of polydimethylsiloxane substrate and a glass ball bearing on a rotational rheometer. Increase in extensional viscosity was detected immediately after initiation of extensional flow, particularly XG, and also immediately before the filament rupture, particularly LBG. Extensional viscosity tended to decrease with increased addition of simulated saliva for XG, while to increase for LBG. In both cases, effect of cations in the saliva was greater than that of mucin. From the shape of the Stribeck curve (i.e., dependence of the friction coefficient on the entrainment speed) and comparison of the friction coefficient itself, lubricity of XG was greater than that of LBG. Simulated saliva added decreased the friction coefficient for each polysaccharide through functions of cations rather than mucin. Extensional viscosity and tribological measurements revealed mechanical properties of polysaccharide solutions which cannot be determined or quantified by shear viscosity alone.

Influence of Formate Concentration on the Rheology and Thermal Degradation of Xanthan Gum.

Xanthan gum solutions have gained increasing interest for their use as environmentally friendly chemicals in the oil industry. Xanthan is compatible with most concentrate brines used for controlling formation damage and fluid loss. Particularly, formate brines reinforce the ordered structure of the biopolymer in solution, gel strength, and the specific gravity of the resulting fluid. In this paper, we studied the effect of thermal aging on the rheological behavior of xanthan solutions as a function of the concentration in potassium formate. Ionic strength below a threshold concentration does not prevent the degradation of the structure of xanthan after being submitted to aging at 165 °C. Aged solutions show an important loss of strength in their mechanical properties, lower pH, and higher content in furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural. Highly concentrated formate brines are necessary to maintain the strength of the rheological properties after exposure to high-temperature environments.

Enhanced delivery of engineered Fe-Mn binary oxides in heterogeneous porous media for efficient arsenic stabilization

Heterogeneity in sediment and aquifer is universal, resulting in preferential flows of injected materials in the high permeability regions and forming flow by-passed zones in the low permeability regions during in-situ subsurface remediation. This adverse effect can considerably delay the completion of remedial operations and significantly increase the cost. Column experiments were designed and conducted to study the transport of starch- and starch-xanthan gum modified Fe-Mn binary oxide particles (SFM and SXFM) in saturated heterogeneous porous media and to reveal the particles’ arsenic (As) stabilization performance. Fine-in-Coarse (FIC) and Coarse-in-Fine (CIF) patterns of heterogeneous packings were set up in the columns. Testing results demonstrated that starch-xanthan gum dual treatment on Fe-Mn binary oxides successfully improved the particles’ migration capability in heterogeneous porous media and their distribution uniformity attributed to the profound shear thinning behavior of xanthan gum solution. The addition of xanthan gum to the system increased the viscosity and shear thinning property of the SXFM suspension, making it a better candidate for delivery. Both SFM and SXFM stabilized As in heterogeneously packed sediment collected from a contaminated site, with SXFM showing better stabilization performance than SFM. The stabilization effects of SXFM were 90.7–97.0%, compared to 82.0–95.2% of SFM.

Green recycling of fly ash into heat and sound insulation composite aerogels reinforced by recycled polyethylene terephthalate fibers

Fly ash is waste from thermal power plants that not only has a serious impact on soil and water but also accumulates in landfills and must be treated properly. In addition, plastic waste, especially polyethylene terephthalate bottles, deteriorates for a long time, so there is an urgent need to recycle them into valuable products. To solve the environmental pollution mentioned above, a feasible zero-waste method has been developed that converts 100% of fly ash into a lightweight composite aerogel reinforced with recycled polyethylene terephthalate fiber. In this study, raw fly ash is bound to the skeleton of the fibers by a non-toxic, biodegradable xanthan gum solution as a binder, which is then lyophilized, leaving a hollow porous structure. The obtained composite aerogels display extremely low density of 0.026–0.062 g/cm3, high porosity of 96.59–98.42%, low thermal conductivity of 34–39 mW/(m·K), flexibility with Young's modulus of 3.98–20.61 kPa, and noise reduction coefficient of 0.18–0.31. Adding fly ash to the fiber framework results in a lightweight composite aerogel with higher porosity, heat, and acoustic insulation, as well as impressive compressive modulus, compared to the fly ash-free aerogels. This study provides a safe, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective solution for recycling fly ash into high-value engineering materials.

Modeling of the Effects of Metal Complexation on the Morphology and Rheology of Xanthan Gum Polysaccharide Solutions

Polysaccharide solutions commonly contain metal ions, which form cross-linking complexes with polymer ligands and significantly affect the polymer morphology and solution rheology. Here, we study by multiscale computational modeling complemented with atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements the molecular mechanisms of metal complexation with examples of xanthan gum (XG) solutions containing ZnCl2. We develop original atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) and coarse-grained dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) models for XG chains of different compositions and Zn complexation. MD simulations reveal that Zn dramatically affects conformations of individual XG chains, causing a reduction in the radius of gyration by the formation of various types of intrachain cross-linking that are enhanced by the increased pyruvate content in the chains. DPD simulations at the static conditions and under the shear flow show that salt addition leads to gelation in XG systems via a sol–gel transition due to enhanced interchain cross-linking. Two morphological transitions occur in the shear flow: an orientational transition to a nematic phase with XG chains aligned in the direction of flow and a bundling transition accompanied by a reverse gel–sol transition at high Zn concentrations. The presence of the increased pyruvate content in the chains leads to stronger aggregation and stiffer aggregates, in qualitative agreement with AFM results. The proposed computational methodology of modeling the effects of metal complexation and chain composition on morphological and rheological properties may be extended and applied to various polysaccharide systems.

A flexible zinc-ion battery based on the optimized concentrated hydrogel electrolyte for enhanced performance at subzero temperature

The emerging aqueous zinc-ion rechargeable batteries have attracted much attention, owing to their intrinsic safety and low cost. However, it is not practical to use zinc-ion batteries in frigid environments due to their liquid water-based electrolytes. To alleviate this issue, we have developed a flexible zinc-ion battery consisting of an optimized concentrated hydrogel electrolyte sandwiched between an ultrathin zinc anode and a NH4V3O8•1•9H2O cathode for enhanced performance at subzero temperature. The hydrogel electrolytes, synthesized by simply mixing xanthan gum and aqueous ZnCl2 solution, are examined via various characterizations, such as thermogravimetric analysis, tensile tests, adhesion tests, and impedance measurements, for understanding their fundamental properties. The contents of the xanthan gum and the zinc salt can be facilely tuned and optimized for maximized battery performance. It is found that when a concentrated hydrogel electrolyte is prepared using 1.2 g xanthan gum mixed in 4 m ZnCl2 solution, the resulted flexible battery delivers the best performance, exhibiting a very high capacity of 201 mAh g − 1 and 83 mAh g − 1 under 0.2 A g − 1 at -20 °C and -40 °C, respectively. The battery also exhibits remarkable cyclability over 1500 cycles at -20 °C. Additionally, the battery shows capacity retention of 92% capacity over 100 cycles while being bent by 90° then 180° at -20 °C. As such, this battery demonstrates excellent electrochemical performance and mechanical durability/flexibility as well as anti-freezing property, showing high potential to be used to power wearable electronics in cold environments or where safety is most crucial.

Fabrication of porous structure vitrified bond diamond grinding wheel via direct ink writing

Porous vitrified bond grinding wheels with complex structure, high porosity, controllable pore size have fundamental application in high efficiency and precision grinding of hard and brittle materials. In this paper, direct ink writing (DIW) is proposed to fabricate three kinds of grinding wheels, including solid structure, triangle structure, and lattice structure. Moreover, the rheological property of ceramic ink with different doses of xanthan gum (XG) solution was investigated to ensure printability, demonstrating 3% XG solution can meet requirements. Additionally, the effect of sintering temperature and pore former (PMMA) contents on size shrinkage rate, morphology, mechanical strength, and porosity et al. were studied. The results indicate that the diamond grinding wheel with 30 vol% PMMA and sintered at 670 °C possess the best comprehensive performance. Besides, grinding performance was evaluated by surface morphology, surface roughness, and material removal rate. Among the DIW-fabricated wheels, triangle structure grinding wheel and lattice structure grinding wheel possess a higher material removal rate than solid structure grinding wheel. Therefore, the porous structure grinding wheels fabricated by DIW present the advantage of controllable porosity, excellent self-sharpening ability, and higher bond strength, which may pave the way for designing a new generation vitrified bond diamond grinding wheel.

Yielding and rheopexy of aqueous xanthan gum solutions

Xanthan gum (XG) is widely used in cosmetic and pharmaceutic products (creams, pastes) and in oil industry (drilling fluids) as a stabilizing and/or thickening agent. In literature, its rheological behavior is mainly presented as that of a shear-thinning or a yield stress fluid. Here, in order to clarify this rheological behavior, we study in detail the flow characteristics during continued flow under given conditions (i.e., controlled stress) for a mass concentration ranging from 0.2 to 5%. We are thus able to identify the apparent flow curve of the material after a short flow duration and the flow curve in steady state (i.e., after a long flow duration). The validity of this flow curve, determined from standard rheometry, is confirmed by magnetic resonance velocimetry. These materials start to exhibit a yield stress behavior beyond some critical xanthan or salt concentration. In that case, a significant increase (by a factor up to 5) of the apparent viscosity is observed during flow in some range of stresses, before reaching a steady state. This original rheopectic effect might be due, after some time of flow associated with deformation and reconfiguration of the XG molecules, to the progressive formation of intermolecular links such as hydrogen bonds and/or intermolecular association due to acetate residues.

Comparing rheological, tribological and sensory properties of microfibrillated cellulose dispersions and xanthan gum solutions

Utilisation of plant waste materials contributes to sustainable food production and allows preparation of functional ingredients from natural bio-materials. Microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) from plant waste materials such as citrus peels has been suggested to have potential as “clean label” thickener. This study compared rheological (shear and extensional rheology, hysteresis, yield stress), tribological and sensory properties of MFC dispersions (0.2–2.0 wt%) to xanthan gum (XG) solutions (0.04–4.3 wt%) and linked sensory characteristics to instrumental properties. Concentrations of MFC and XG were chosen so that shear viscosities of MFC dispersions and XG solutions were similar over a large range of shear rates. XG had higher extensional viscosity at high deformation rates than MFC. XG had higher yield stress than MFC at similar shear viscosity. Yield stress increased linearly with increasing concentrations for XG, while it increased exponentially for MFC. Seventy-three consumers evaluated the appearance, flavour, and mouthfeel of all samples using the Rate-All-That-Apply (RATA) method. Sensory differences between MFC and XG were generally larger at higher concentrations. MFC dispersions were less transparent and had more intense cardboard flavour than XG solutions of comparable shear viscosity. At high thickener concentrations, XG solutions were perceived as glossier, stickier, slimier and more mouthcoating than MFC dispersions of similar shear viscosity. Sticky, slimy and mouthcoating perception were correlated with extensional viscosity at higher deformation rates. We conclude that MFC can thicken foods similar to XG while avoiding undesired texture sensations such as mouthcoating, sliminess and stickiness. The flavour and dispersibility of MFC need to be improved further before it can be applied as thickener in foods.

Pressure Drop Method as a Useful Tool for Detecting Rheological Properties of Non-Newtonian Fluids during Flow

The aim of the research was to develop a pressure drop measuring method dedicated to fluids under real flow through a pipeline. The measurement system is a set of appropriately configured flow meter and pressure sensors installed on the pipeline. The pressure drop values detected on the measuring section are sufficient to clearly determine the rheological properties of the fluid. The measuring system used for the tests consisted of a screw pump, two pressure sensors and an electromagnetic flow meter. The length of the measuring section was 4.12 m, and the internal diameter of the pipeline was 0.026 m. To calibrate of the measuring system a glycerol was used. As a model fluid, a 1% water solution of xanthan gum was used and was subjected to the flow at following shear rate conditions: 5, 11, 17, 23, 29, 35, 41, 47, 53, 59, 65 s−1. The obtained raw experimental data included the pressure drop values and flow rate and they created full information about the fluid behavior during flow. According to the momentum balance equation, the rheological parameters of Ostwald de Waele model were estimated. The estimation procedure was carried out with the help of the Marquardt-Levenberg minimisation method. The same solutions simultaneously were tested with the help of a rotational rheometer. The data obtained from the pressure drop method were consistent with the results obtained from the rotational rheometer. The use of the pressure drop allows to determine the rheological properties of the non-newtonian fluids under the process conditions directly in the pipeline. In addition, it is possible to perform full rheological characteristics based on one flow rate under laminar conditions.

Optical characterization method for birefringent fluids using a polarization camera

Various techniques exist for characterizing a birefringent fluid by means of extinction angle and birefringence. We summarize these techniques and present a new procedure. The approach derives the first three Stokes parameters from images of a polarization camera and uses them to calculate the corresponding streaming birefringence by applying the Mueller matrix calculus. The required theory and a suitable experimental set-up are described. We apply the new measurement procedure to two Xanthan gum solutions and characterize their optical properties. The results agree with published data. Advantages of the new measurement technique are ease of handling, high robustness against optical imperfections and the possibility to measure a continuous response to shear in a single test series.

Rheological and Microstructural Properties of Xanthan Gum-Based Coating Solutions Enriched with Phenolic Mango (Mangifera indica) Peel Extracts.

Mango (Mangifera indica) is a tropical fruit highly desired for its vitamin content and flavor, but its peel is considered a byproduct or waste. However, mango peel contains some bioactive compounds that improve food quality matrix for the development of edible coatings or films. The effect of phenolic mango (Mangifera indica) peel extracts on the physicochemical, rheological, and microstructural properties of xanthan gum-based coating solutions was evaluated. The obtained solutions were stable during the study period and presented a non-Newtonian fluid type shear-thinning behavior described by Ostwald–de Waele. Moreover, viscoelastic properties revealed that the elastic modulus was higher than the viscous modulus, showing a characteristic of weak gels. The addition of extracts did not alter the shear rate and viscoelastic character of the solutions, preserving the pseudoplasticity and weak gel behavior of xanthan gum associated with spreadability and adherence of coatings; it modified the gel structure as a function of temperature. Furthermore, the coating solutions of xanthan gum and phenolic mango peel extracts are an alternative to develop complex food systems such as edible coatings, edible films, or delivery systems.

Impact of ethanol addition on the behaviour of xanthan gum in aqueous media

The effect of ethanol (EtOH) addition on the behaviour of xanthan gum (XG) chains in water (W) was investigated at 25 °C by using turbidimetry, zeta potential, refractometry and viscometry. The presence of EtOH (nonsolvent) in aqueous solution of XG reduces the thermodynamic quality of solvent and increases the polymer-polymer contacts (i.e., electrostatic, H-bonding or hydrophobic interactions). Thus, the transition from an expanded chain conformation to a more compact one was evidenced by viscometry, zeta potential masurements and refractometry while the aggregation of macromolecules or phase separation were observed by turbidimetry. A phase diagram for XG in solvent/nonsolvent mixtures was provided.For volumetric fractions of ethanol (ϕEtOH) higher than 0.3, zeta potential increases above −30 mV and the aggregation of xanthan chains takes place. Measurements of refractive indices were used to determine the preferential adsorption coefficient (λ1) for different volumetric fractions of ethanol. The parameter λ1 quantifies the polymer chain affinity for one component of the solvent/nonsolvent mixtures.The polyelectrolyte effect of XG chains in solution and the variable polarity as a function of W/EtOH composition influence the overall thermodynamic behaviour of XG assessed through the viscometric parameters determined by using the Wolf approach.

Formulation, Evaluation, and Clinical Assessment of Novel Solid Lipid Microparticles of Tetracycline Hydrochloride for the Treatment of Periodontitis.

The novel solvent-free process to formulate long-acting microparticles of tetracycline hydrochloride (TH) using hot melt extrusion granulation process coupled with size reduction using comil for the treatment of periodontitis was investigated using hydrogenated castor oil (HCO) as hydrophobic matrix former. The microparticles were characterized for micromeritics, drug diffusion, SEM studies, and stability analysis by DSC, FTIR, and proton NMR. Xanthan gum gel was used as delivery vehicles to administer microparticles inside periodontal pockets. The microparticles were sterilized using gamma radiation; delivery vehicle was sterilized using gamma radiation and autoclave process. Microparticles were evaluated for microbial load as per compendial guidelines. Optimized composition was evaluated for clinical parameters such as plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depth, and clinical attachment level. Based on the statistical analysis of the data, the micromeritic properties and drug diffusion profiles vary based on the concentration of HCO in the formulation. SEM images reflect the surface properties prior and post drug diffusion studies, which indicates that release takes place predominantly by diffusion of TH through HCO matrix. DSC studies indicate no change in the respective spectra of initial and stability samples. FTIR studies indicate possibility of hydrogen bonding. Proton NMR data suggests characteristic peaks of TH being retained in the stability samples, indicating stable composition. Gamma radiation has led to significant reduction in viscosity of xanthan gum solution over autoclave. Clinical studies indicated statistical improvements in the formulation compared to baseline results, indicating the efficacy of the formulation in the treatment of periodontitis.

Effect of LCM and polymeric additives on mudcake and filtrate rheology parameters

In oil and gas well drilling operations, lost circulation is characterized by the invasion of drilling fluid into permeable formations. Besides generating additional costs to the process, the loss of circulation can damage producer formations and, if uncorrected, reduce pressure inside the well, inducing kicks. One of the alternatives for combating this problem is the addition of lost circulation materials (LCM) to the drilling fluid. The added LCMs will accumulate and form a filter cake on the interface between the well and the porous formation, thus reducing the volume of fluid lost. In the present work, the cake formation process resulting from the deposition of particulate material on a porous substrate is studied experimentally. The objective is evaluating the influence of type and concentration of two polymeric additives and four types of LCM on the formation of the filter cake. The experiments were carried out in an API filter press at pressures of 100 psi, using solutions of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and xanthan gum (XG) in water at 1.05 and 2.10 lbm/bbl. The particle size used as loss of circulation material comprises two values (2 – 44 and 44 – 106 μm) of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), glass microspheres (180 – 300 μm), and plastic particles (250 – 420 μm). The efficiency of the fluid-LCM combination in combating lost circulation is evaluated based on the filtrate volume, thickness, dry and wet cake masses, and filtrate flow curves. Results show that the increase of the LCM concentration and the use of the calcium carbonate particulate with smaller particles favor the filtrate volume reduction. Also, the filtrates exhibit non-Newtonian behavior with reduced values of viscosity due to the retention of polymeric chains by the formed filter cake. Such phenomenon is most significantly detected when calcium carbonate is used.

Insulator-based dielectrophoretic focusing and trapping of particles in non-Newtonian fluids.

Insulator-based dielectrophoretic (iDEP) microdevices have been limited to work with Newtonian fluids. We report an experimental study of the fluid rheological effects on iDEP focusing and trapping of polystyrene particles in polyethylene oxide, xanthan gum, and polyacrylamide solutions through a constricted microchannel. Particle focusing and trapping in the mildly viscoelastic polyethylene oxide solution are slightly weaker than in the Newtonian buffer. They are, however, significantly improved in the strongly viscoelastic and shear thinning polyacrylamide solution. These observed particle focusing behaviors exhibit a similar trend with respect to electric field, consistent with a revised theoretical analysis for iDEP focusing in non-Newtonian fluids. No apparent focusing of particles is achieved in the xanthan gum solution, though the iDEP trapping can take place under a much larger electric field than the other fluids. This is attributed to the strong shear thinning-induced influences on both the electroosmotic flow and electrokinetic/dielectrophoretic motions.

Viscoelastic Particle Train Formation in Microfluidic Flows Using a Xanthan Gum Aqueous Solution.

Viscoelastic polymer solutions have been widely employed as suspending liquids for a myriad of microfluidic applications including particle and cell focusing, sorting, and encapsulation. It has been recently shown that viscoelastic solutions can drive the formation of equally spaced particles called "particle trains" as a result of the viscoelasticity-mediated hydrodynamic interactions between adjacent particles. Despite their potential impact on applications such as droplet encapsulation and flow cytometry, only limited experimental studies on viscoelastic ordering are currently available. In this work, we demonstrate that a viscoelastic shear-thinning aqueous xanthan gum solution drives the self-assembly of particle trains on the centerline of a serpentine microfluidic device with a nearly circular cross section. After focusing, the flowing particles change their mutual distance and organize in aligned structures characterized by a preferential spacing, quantified in terms of distributions of the interparticle distance. We observe the occurrence of multi-particle strings, mainly doublets and triplets, that interrupt the continuity of the particle train. To account for the fluctuations in the number of flowing particles in the experimental window, we introduce the concept of local particle concentration, observing that an increase of the local particle concentration leads to an increase of doublets and triplets. We also demonstrate that using only a single tube to connect the sample to the microfluidic device results in a drastic reduction of doublets/triplets, thus leading to a more uniform particle train. Our findings establish the foundation for optimized applications such as deterministic droplet encapsulation in viscoelastic liquids and optimized flow cytometry.