Process micro-structured unit operations

Process Intensification through Micro-structured Unit Operations I 49... 

These filled tubes or capillaries hence are mini fixed beds with internal micro flow regions. Such approach is a link between real micro structured units and conventional equipment. The type of processing may be analogous to conventional processing, e.g. fixed-bed or trickle-bed operation. 

The separation and purification of gas mixtures by adsorption is an important unit operation in the chemical and petrochemical industries. The demand of products with high purity has increased and, therefore, attention has focused on separation processes. The two main types of adsorbents used for this purpose are zeolites and CMS. In both cases, their micro-porous structure allows the separation of molecules on a shape and size basis. These CMS have some advantages over molecular sieve zeolites, including shape, selectivity for planar molecules, higher hydrophobicity, higher resistance to both alkaline and acid media and... 

Until now, all in the literature proposed LAPS devices are complete autarkic measurement systems. Further applications can be found by the integration of LAPS devices into existing analytic fields. This requires the development of inexpensive integrated electronic units to operate the LAPS and to provide a standardised communication with higher process levels. The LAPS devices need to be easy in use to allow the operation in commercial environments. Due to the simple structure of the LAPS, the integration into micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), lab-on-chip and micro-total analysis systems (p-TAS) might be of special interest in the near future. 

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