Abstract
Microfluidics has brought diverse advantages to chemical processes, allowing higher control of reactions and economy of reagents and energy. Low temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) have additional advantages as material for fabrication of microfluidic devices, such as high compatibility with chemical reagents with typical average surface roughness of 0.3154 μm, easy scaling, and microfabrication. The conjugation of LTCC technology with microfluidics allows the development of micrometric-sized channels and reactors exploiting the advantages of fast and controlled mixing and heat transfer processes, essential for the synthesis and surface functionalization of nanoparticles. Since the chemical process area is evolving toward miniaturization and continuous flow processing, we verify that microfluidic devices based on LTCC technology have a relevant role in implementing several chemical processes. The present work reviews various LTCC microfluidic devices, developed in our laboratory, applied to chemical process miniaturization, with different geometries to implement processes such as ionic gelation, emulsification, nanoprecipitation, solvent extraction, nanoparticle synthesis and functionalization, and emulsion-diffusion/solvent extraction process. All fabricated microfluidics structures can operate in a flow range of mL/min, indicating that LTCC technology provides a means to enhance micro- and nanoparticle production yield.
Highlights
Microfluidics continuous flow techniques display advantages when compared to batch chemical processes, such as high surface-to-volume ratio, small thermal inertia, fast temperature changes, easy adjustment of residence times, and production of emulsions and suspensions with monodisperse distribution [1,2]
We present a review of the utilization of Low temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) microfluidic devices, developed in our laboratory, applied to chemical process miniaturization, operating in the mL/min flow rates range
Particles ranging from 400 μm to 115 μm with polydispersity index less than 1.5% (PDI = (σ/d)2) were obtained
Summary
Microfluidics continuous flow techniques display advantages when compared to batch chemical processes, such as high surface-to-volume ratio, small thermal inertia, fast temperature changes, easy adjustment of residence times, and production of emulsions and suspensions with monodisperse distribution [1,2]. Green ceramics are compatible with organic solvents, strong acids, and reducing reagents; that is, its application leads to a wide range of reactions using LTCC devices [16]. At this time, we present a review of the utilization of LTCC microfluidic devices, developed in our laboratory, applied to chemical process miniaturization, operating in the mL/min flow rates range. LTCC microfluidic devices with different designs in a 3D configuration were fabricated in order to generate micro- and nanoparticles under continuous flows, as well to perform other unit operations. Each design and configuration took into consideration chemical process such as ionic gelation, emulsification, nanoprecipitation, solvent extraction, nanoparticle synthesis and functionalization, and emulsion-diffusion/solvent extraction
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