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Article: MICROREACTORS: Alternative to the microreactor.
- Article from:
- Process Engineering
- Article date:
- July 21, 2008
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 Centaur Communications Limited. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Microreactors have been A focus of GROWING interest for chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturers, attracted by the prospect of faster reactions, higher yields and reduced use of solvents. These performance advantages are, in part, linked to the heat transfer characteristics of microreactors due to the high surface/volume ratios associated with the use of small flow channels.
Despite their excellent heat transfer capabilities, microreactors have some significant drawbacks, however. The constricted flow channels of micro- reactors cause relatively high pressure drops - creating fabrication problems for the reactor and pump, especially where corrosive materials ...