Ammonia oxidation in a microreactor

What is a microreactor?

A microchemical reactor, or microreactor, is one of several chemical engineering unit process devices that are now being designed on the micrometer (as opposed to the meter) scale. For example, the microreactor used to model the ammonia oxidation reaction in this project is a rectangular duct measuring 300 microns wide by 40 microns high by 1 centimeter in length. Other micro devices are being developed in the areas of heat exchange and separations. Want to see some actual microreactors?

The potential advantages of using a microreactor, rather than a conventional reactor, include better control of reaction conditions, improved safety, and portability. Better control of reaction conditions refers to the ability to precisely control the temperature of the reactor, a direct result of the reactor's extremely high surface to volume ratio. Improved safety results from the reactor's extremely small size: if a reaction does 'run away' (i.e., exotherm out of control) then the resulting heat generation increase should not be a threatening amount. Portability is obvious: microreactors can fit in your pocket. Try that some time with a typical 'lab scale' autoclave.

Potential chemical process industry applications for microreactors range across the spectrum, from becoming the newest 'lab scale' experimental reactor to generating chemicals as needed at the site of their consumption to new iterations of smaller, faster, better analytical devices.

 For more information on microreactor applications, please consult these references.