The apparatus and methods of the present invention are of use for theproduction of emulsion-based microparticles containing a biological orchemical agent. In particular, the apparatus provides a vessel packingmaterial situated inside such vessel and may further provide material capableof insertion into both ends of said vessel for enclosure of the packingmaterial. In a particular embodiment, the apparatus is a packed bed apparatus.The methods include production of emulsion~ based microparticles containing abiological or chemical agent. The usefulness of the present invention is thatthe apparatus and methods of the present invention provide for a low-shear,non-turbulent, production of emulsion-based microparticles that provides anarrow, reproducible, particle size distribution, capable of use with bothlarge and small volumes that is capable of being conveniently scaled up whileproviding predictable emulsion properties.
