High surface area ZnO nanoparticles are synthesized by applying a novel continuous precipitation method using a micromixer coupled directly to a bench-top spray dryer. The polycrystalline material is obtained by fast turbulent precipitation from aqueous zinc nitrate solutions with either sodium or potassium carbonate followed by immediate quenching of the aging clue to the rapid water removal. Specific surface areas up to 98 m(2) g(-1) are obtained, depending on the precipitant and the sequence of unit operations applied after precipitation.