Premium
Controlling fine particle formation processes using a concentric microreactor
Author(s) -
Nagasawa Hideharu,
Tsujiuchi Tatsuya,
Maki Taisuke,
Mae Kazuhiro
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.11049
Subject(s) - microreactor , particle (ecology) , microchannel , concentric , nucleation , diffusion , chemistry , particle size , mechanics , thermodynamics , materials science , nanotechnology , physics , catalysis , organic chemistry , geometry , mathematics , oceanography , geology
To clarify the mechanism of fine‐particle formation processes in a multilamination type microreactor that proceeds mainly due to molecular‐diffusion‐induced mixing, the relation between the size and distribution, and reaction‐operation condition in experimental and numerical approaches is investigated. For experimental study, a concentric microreactor was used, and titania fine‐particle formation was examined as a model reaction. Based on the hypothesis on the fine‐particle formation mechanism, from the experimental results derived, a relatively simple calculation model was made, and validity demonstrated by showing the coincidence of the calculation results and the experimental results. Also, the calculation model was used to establish a technique for predicting the reactant concentration profiles in the microchannel, particle‐growth rate, number of formed particles, and nucleation region. Thus, the proposed analysis method will be useful as a guideline for designing microreactors to form fine particles, and will provide industrially information. © 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2007