Modeling and experimental study on a photochemical microscale continuous oscillatory baffled reactor

Abstract

Herein, the first photochemical microscale continuous oscillatory baffled reactor, that is, Photo-μCOBR, was designed and evaluated. Computational fluid dynamics simulations were used to optimize the key structural parameter and operating conditions. Then, the mixing process was simulated and the μCOBR was shown to be more than 23 times faster than the straight channel both under oscillating conditions. Finally, a glass Photo-μCOBR was fabricated by femtosecond laser internal engraving technology, and the photocatalytic gas–liquid oxidation of dihydroartemisinic acid was performed. A yield of 65.9% was achieved in a residence time of ~120 s and at a gas–liquid flow rate ratio of 1:3 (vs. 18.6% in the capillary photomicroreactor under identical conditions). The results in this work offer guidelines for the design and operation of microscale COBRs, and the as-fabricated Photo-μCOBR displays good potential for gas–liquid photochemical reactions.