Microreactors for continuous processing – How close to commercial utility?

Abstract

Microreactor technology holds great promise for simplifying process chemistry. The design of microreactors inherently simplifies heat transfer and flow. Continuous processing on a commercial scale is also achievable using these reactors, providing significant improvements in efficiency compared with batch processing. Two-phase reactions with liquid-gas and liquid-solid phases present difficulties for microreactor-based processing; however, advances in reactor design are providing some solutions to such challenges. The potential efficiencies provided by microreactors suggest that this technology will be adopted increasingly for widespread commercial applications, particularly following greater investment by companies and further improvements in engineering.