Table 3.

An overview of the processes applicable for production of polysaccharide gel particles (after drying, aerogels can be produced).

	Dropping	JetCutter	Spraying Atomization	Emulsion Gelation
Particle size	0.2–10 mm	0.2–10 mm	1–500 µm	10–500 µm
Scale of the process (productivity)	1 g/min (10 nozzle system) a	Technical scale (several kg/h)	Productivity depends on the nozzle	Technical scale possible
Needs of additives	No	No	No	Surfactants and oil
Advantages	Very simple	Versatile systems, simple, commercially available apparatus; monodispersed particles	Different sizes possible depending on the nozzle	Simple apparatus Particle size can be regulated by stirring and surfactants
Limitations	Limited productivity	Not suitable to produce small particles (<200 µm); limited processing window in terms of the rheological properties of solutions	Clogging, polydispersed particles	Washing from oil; Polydispersed particles

^a the droplets are freely falling under the gravitation force; viscosity of fluid is 1.8 Pa.s at a shear rate of 1 s⁻¹.