Chip-type reactors

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. 

Figure 3.32 Chip-type micro reactor equipped with flow and temperature sensors [19, 62] (by courtesy of Springer Verlag).

A modular micro structured chemical reaction system (ICS) similar to [R 14] is claimed by Bard [84]. The system can use various replaceable and interchangeable cylindrical or rectangular reactors. Generally, the ICS system can include fluid flow handling and control components, mixers, reaction chip-type units, separator devices, process variable detectors and controllers and a computer interface for communicating with the master control center (see Figure 4.31) [84],... 

Another category of enzymatic transformations in multiphase systems is enzymes immobilized on the reactor wall as presented in Table 10.4. Enzymes are advantageously used in immobilized form because this strategy allows for increased volumetric productivity and improves stability. Continuous mode of operation is employed in these systems. The approaches commonly used for immobilization in conventional multiphase biocatalysis can also be employed in microreactors such as covalent methods, cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEA), and adsorption methods. The experimental setups can either be chip-type reactors with activated charmel surface walls where enzyme binds, or enzyme immobilized monolith reactors, where a support is packed inside a capillary tube. 

Biocatalytic reactions performed using immobilized enzyme microreactors under continuous flow mode have been found effective for hydrolysis reactions [121,158-161], with the enzyme either trapped in the matrix [159], covalently linked to modified surface wall [160,121], enzymes entrapped in hydrogels [162], or enzymes immobilized on monolith [179]. The experimental setup consists of either chip-type microreactors with activated chaimel walls where enzymes bind, enzymes that bind to beads, enzymes entrapped in the matrix, enzymes adsorbed in nanoporous materials, and most recently, nanosprings as supports for immobilized enzymes in chip-based reactors, or enzyme immobilized monolith reactors, where support is packed inside a capillary tube (Table 10.4). 

One of the most frequently used micro reactor types relies on the use of micro-structured platelets with multiple parallel channels, typically manufactured by methods other than routinely used for chip processing, encased in a housing [3,4, 12, 13, 18, 28-39]. If more than one platelet is used, which is usually done to increase throughput, a stack-like arrangement is preferred for parallel feed. Such stacks are either welded directly from the outside [29, 30], are encompassed by a cover [3,18, 31, 32, 37-39], have end caps with fluidic connectors [12,13, 33] or are inserted into a recess of a housing, which is typically composed of two parts [4, 28, 34-36, 40 1]. 

Reactor type Chip reactor with thin-film sensors and membrane Catalyst material Pt... 

Reactor type Multi-channel chip reactor Pt film thickness 10-40 nm... 

Reactor type Self-heating chip reactor Pt heating element diameter length 100 pm 200 mm... 

Reactor type Modular multi-functional chip reaction system More details are given in [137]... 

Reactor type Membrane chip reactor Membrane width 700 pm... 

Reactor type Chip micro reactor with one micro-channel mixing tee Channel width depth 200 pm (at top) x 100 pm... 

Reactor type Chip micro reactor Micro reactor Borosilicate glass... 

The chip micro reactor [R 5] comprises a long micro channel connected to two vertically positioned shorter channels at each end which lead to two reservoirs [17]. These shorter channels are oriented in opposite directions so that a Z-type flow configuration results. In the downstream section of the long channel, two other vertically oriented shorter channels are also attached. These channels are each connected to a liquid reservoir. A total of five reservoirs are made in this way (Figure 4.6). 

Reactor type Chip micro reactor with multiple vertical injections in a main channel Micro-channels etch 146 pm 38 pm mask width etch depth... 

Reactor 7 [R 7] Chip Micro Reactor with Z-type Flow Configuration... 

Reactor type Chip micro reactor with extended serpentine path and ports for two-step processing Serpentine micro channel width depth 100 pm 25 pm... 

Reactor type Chip system with triangular interdigital micro mixer-reaction channel Mixing channel width 50 pm... 

Reactor type Bifurcation-distributive chip micro mixer ... 

Reactor type Triple-feed continuous multiphase chip reactor system Micro-channel width depth length Not given in [28]... 

Reactor 14 [R14] Chip with Bi-/Tri-layer Flow Configuration Using Y-type Contact... 

Reactor type Chip with bi/tri-layer flow configuration using Y-type Outer dimensions 30 X 15 X 1.7 mm ... 

Reactor type Single-channel chip micro reactor Zeolite catalyst layer thickness 3 pm... 

Reactor type Liquid-liquid micro chip distributor- tube reactor Tube diameters (PTFE) 150 pm 178 pm... 

Reactor type Liquid/liquid micro chip disUibutor-tube reactor Capillary tube length (reactor) 500-1800 mm... 

Reactor type Fork-like chip micro mixer-tube reactor Characteristic structure of the mixing stage G structure ... 

Reactor type Chip micro reaction system with parallel mixer-reachon channels Plate thicknesses 2 X 0.2 mm 5 X 0.7 mm 1x1 mm... 

Reactor type Dual-channel micro reactor Base plate material of interfacing chip housing Silicon stainless steel... 

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