Microstructured glass reactor

Figure 2.22 Experimental setup (a) and photograph of a microstructured glass reactor (b).

This simple reactor concept is based on a microstructured silicon chip (Figure 3.18) covered by a Pyrex-glass plate by anodic bonding [73, 74]. The silicon microstructure comprises, in addition to inlet and outlet structures, a multi-channel array. Only the Pyrex-glass plate acts as cover and inlet and outlet streams interface the silicon chip from the rear. 

A chip-type micro reactor array comprises parallel mixer units composed of inverse mixing tees, each followed by a micro channel that it is surrounded by heat exchange micro channels (so called channel-by-channel approach similar to the tube-in-tube concept). Such an integrated device was developed as a stack of microstructured plates made of a special glass, termed Foturan (Figure 4.26). The integrated device was attached to PTFE tubes of various lengths. 

V-Ti-Ni alloys and Fe- /Co-Based metallic glasses have been evaluated with respect to hydrogen permeability for potential use in hydrogen purification membrane reactor application. Microstructural characterization of the V-Ti-Ni alloy using SEM has shown similar microstructural features to a previously evaluated Nb-Ti-Ni alloy namely, the occurrence of a primary phase surrounded by interdendritic eutectic. 

Following extensive laboratory studies at the University of Durham, UK, on the direct fluorination of ethyl 3-oxobutanoate in formic add, scale-out was made from a three- to a nine-channel microstructured reactor, in cooperation with Asahi Glass Co. in Yokohama, Japan [60],... 

O. Muraza, E.V. Rebrov, J. Chen, M. Putkonen, L. Niinisto, M.H.J.M. de Croon, J.C. Schouten, Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of zeolite Beta coatings on ALD-modified borosilicate glass for application in microstructured reactors, Chem. Eng. J. 135 (2008) SI 17. 

T. McCreedy, Rapid prototyping of glass and PDMS microstructures for micro total analytical systems and micro chemical reactors by microfabrication in the general laboratory. Anal Chim. Acta 2001, 427, 39 3. 

Microstructured reactors have been fabricated from a variety of substrates, including silicon, quartz, metals, polymers, ceramics, and glass. The choice of substrate is largely dependent on the following parameters ... 

Figure11.34 (a) Reactor made by assembly of the glass microstructures, (b) Production bank with four identical reactors and distribution system.

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