[Research News] Elucidating Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation Under Non-Equilibrium Conditions ｜Doshisha University

Researchers examine the water/ethanol/butylparaben system to improve their understanding of localized liquid-liquid phase separation

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is a unique phenomenon that occurs during crystallization. In a new study, Professor Yoshiyuki Shirakawa’s research team have investigated the non-equilibrium phase behavior of localized LLPS driven by initial solute concentration and antisolvent addition rate in a ternary water/ethanol/butylparaben system. The present findings provide insights that may help regulate LLPS in turn potentially paving the way for improved product quality in the pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and food industries.

Reference

Naoya Matsushima, Yuhei Tsugawa, Kazunori Kadota, Mikio Yoshida, Yoshiyuki Shirakawa, Non-equilibrium phase behavior of localized LLPS driven by solute concentration and antisolvent addition rate, Journal of Molecular Liquids, Vol. 444, 15 February 2026, 129224

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2025.129224

For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Initiatives and Development, Doshisha University. 

https://research.doshisha.ac.jp/news/news-detail-88/ 

This achievement has also been featured in the “EurekAlert!.

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1113754

Title: Characteristic behavior of droplets in solution during their diffusion 

Caption: Researchers used cloud point measurements to construct a phase diagram. The solid lines represent the droplet density, while the dashed lines represent the solution density.

Credit: Professor Yoshiyuki Shirakawa from Doshisha University 

Image license: ©Elsevier. Reproduced with permission from Journal of Molecular Liquids 

Usage restrictions: This figure is used for press release purposes only.

Image link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167732225024031