The past, present and potential for microfluidic reactor technology in chemical synthesis

Abstract

The past two decades have seen far-reaching progress in the development of microfluidic systems for use in the chemical and biological sciences. Here we assess the utility of microfluidic reactor technology as a tool in chemical synthesis in both academic research and industrial applications. We highlight the successes and failures of past research in the field and provide a catalogue of chemistries performed in a microfluidic reactor. We then assess the current roadblocks hindering the widespread use of microfluidic reactors from the perspectives of both synthetic chemistry and industrial application. Finally, we set out seven challenges that we hope will inspire future research in this field.

Synthesis, Functionalization, and Design of Magnetic Nanoparticles for Theranostic Applications

“…[162] As with many new www.advancedsciencenews.com www.advhealthmat.de techniques, initial claims regarding performance, uniqueness, and applicability were optimistic and wide ranging. [163] The utilization of MF systems has found many applications in chemical industries for applications such as chemical synthesis, diagnosis, and crystallization due to their state-of-the-art developments in recent years. The first use of MF devices dates back to 1940, [164] for the fabrication of a chip-based chromatography.…”

Design and additive manufacture for flow chemistry

“…In microfluidics, the precise control over many of these conditions, such as pressure and temperature, affords the chemist some control over the selection of one product over another. 16 Enhanced mass transfer: enhanced heat and mass transfer throughout the reaction medium leads to more frequent and uniform molecular interactions during a flow process. Typically, microreactors demonstrate a much larger surface area to volume ratio than conventional batch reactors such as round bottom flasks or test tubes, minimising diffusion distances within the reaction.…”

“…This leads to a considerable reduction in processing cost, particularly when dealing with costly reagents or reactions where only small volumes are available for testing and analysis. 16 Green chemistry: a number of factors such as reduced thermal output, increased reaction selectivity, reduced reaction volumes, and reduced solvent and reagent usage etc., can lead to substantial environmental benefits when using flow chemistry instead of batch processing. 19 Reaction optimisation and automation: with the advent of more precise pumping systems and the development of highly robust analytical procedures, the fields of reaction optimisation, experimental design, and reaction automation have become intrinsically linked with flow chemistry applications.…”

“…A generally accepted definition of a microfluidic device, would be when the characteristic channel dimensions are below 500 µm. 16 A more robust definition may be a device whereby fluid flow operates below Reynolds (Re) and thermal Péclet numbers (Pe) below 250 and 100…”

“…To obtain synthetically useful amounts of material, the reactors are simply allowed to run for a longer period of time (scaleout). 16 Alternatively, several reactors are placed in parallel (numbering up), assuring comparable conditions for each module in the batch. 30 Typically, flow throughout these devices is laminar, with Reynolds numbers being in the range of 1 to 250 depending on channel dimensions and flow rates.…”