Scale-up potential of photochemical microfluidic synthesis by selective dimension enlarging with agitation of microbubbles. (23rd November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sheng, Xiao; Zheng, Yuanzhi; Li, Wenjing; Gao, Ruomei; Du, Le; Wang, Yujun
• Is Part Of: Chemical engineering science. Volume 226(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11-23
• Subjects: Microfluidics -- Selective dimension enlarging -- Microbubbles -- Photochemical synthesis -- CFD simulation; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; Génie chimique -- Périodiques; Chemical engineering; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 660
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2020.115862
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-2509

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Selective dimension enlarging for photochemical microfluidic reaction was achieved. Microscale effect was maintained owing to the convective mixing by microbubbles. The channel size could be increased to 4 mm with a 41 times increased productivity. A theoretical method was developed to assess mixing time and scale-up potential. Abstract: Selective dimension enlarging integrated with numbering-up is of great importance for microfluidics. However, its feasibility for photochemical processes remains unclear due to the strict requirements of uniform irradiation. Herein, a novel method for selective dimension enlarging in photochemical production was developed by introducing microbubbles. A membrane dispersion microreactor was employed to generate microbubbles for efficient mixing and uniform absorption of photons. With an increased channel size from 0.6 mm to 4 mm, it allowed a 41-fold increase in productivity while maintaining the microscale effect. The yield of was increased by 44–70 % with 83–86% less side products, compared with those of the homogeneous and segmented flow systems. In addition, a theoretical method combining CFD simulation was developed to predict the change of mixing time with device scales, which could be used to assess the practicality by selective dimension enlarging for different photochemical microfluidic processes.