Multi-phase packed-bed microreactor with active carbon catalyst (Courtesy of M. Losey, MIT) |
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Multi-phase packed-bed microreactor with active carbon catalyst (Courtesy of M. Losey, MIT) |
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Module Description
Microfabrication techniques are being employed in many fields of chemistry to realize structures with capabilities exceeding those of conventional macroscopic systems. Microreaction technology is expected to have a number of advantages for chemical synthesis, chemical kinetics studies, and process development. The high heat and mass transfer rates possible in microfluidic systems could allow reactions to be performed under more aggressive conditions with higher yields than achievable with conventional reactors. Integration of sensor and control elements provides faster and cheaper access to chemical kinetic data than feasible with conventional macroscopic systems. Inherent safety characteristics suggest that production scale systems of multiple microreactors should enable distributed point-of-use chemical synthesis of chemicals with storage and shipping limitations, such as highly reactive and toxic intermediates. Scale-up to production by replication of microreactor units used in the laboratory would eliminate costly redesign and pilot plant experiments, thereby shortening the development time from laboratory to commercial production.
This module will review microfabrication techniques and microfluidic devices for chemical and biological applications. Chemical engineering principles of fluid dynamics, heat and mass transfer, and chemical kinetics will be used to evaluate potential microfluidic devices and to design microfluidic devices. Lectures on microfabrication techniques and microfluidics will be given during the first part of the module. The second part of the module will then be devoted to team based design of microfluidic components - such as mixers, heat exchangers, reactors, separators. Depending on the size of the group, there may be opportunities for building and testing simple devices.
Module Outline:
Week 1:Introduction to microfluidics - chemical and biological applications
Microfabrication techniques - silicon based approaches, bulk
Alternative microfabrication strategies - ?soft lithography?
Week 2:Microfabrication techniques (continued)
Fundamentals of microfluidics: flow - heat transfer - mixing - mass transfer and reactions
Week 3:Fundamentals of microfluidics (continued)
Applications of microfluidics - chemical synthesis and biological systems including polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
Week 4: Project design and reports
