Multiphase flow processing in microreactors combined with heterogeneous catalysis for efficient and sustainable chemical synthesis

Jun Yue

doi:10.1016/j.cattod.2017.09.041

Abstract

The convergence of continuous flow chemistry and microreactor technology creates numerous possibilities towards the development of an efficient and sustainable chemical synthesis. In this field, the combination of heterogeneous catalysis and multiphase flow processing in microreactors represents an important approach. This review presents a summary of the recent progress on the utilization of wall-coated and packed-bed microreactors for carrying out heterogeneously catalyzed gas-liquid and liquid-liquid reactions, with a focus on the microreactor operation principles and selected reaction examples with promising application potential. Finally, an outlook on the future development trends is provided.

Highlights

The petrochemical, fine chemicals and pharmaceutical industries, are striving for developing more sustainable chemical processes and products with high efficiency, in order to well address the ever-increasing global concern on the environmental protection and intensive worldwide competition in the existing or new market areas for the maximized economic benefits [1,2]
Researches on heterogeneous catalysis in conjunction with multiphase flow processing in microreactors have been on the rapid rise, given the huge potential of this approach towards the development of an efficient and sustainable chemical synthesis particular relevant to fine chemicals and pharmaceutical industries
Solid catalysts have been incorporated into capillary- and chip-based microreactors in the form of either catalytic wall coatings or powder particles as covered in this review

Summary

Introduction

The petrochemical, fine chemicals and pharmaceutical industries, are striving for developing more sustainable chemical processes and products with high efficiency, in order to well address the ever-increasing global concern on the environmental protection and intensive worldwide competition in the existing or new market areas for the maximized economic benefits [1,2] This has attracted numerous research attentions over recent years in both academia and industry on the development of novel synthetic strategies using green chemistry concepts and the corresponding key-enabling chemical process technologies for their promising application. These merits create unique opportunities to greatly improve the existing chemical routes (e.g., in safety enhancement, waste minimization and efficiency maximization), and enable green chemical transformations using novel and efficient synthetic protocols (an area that is especially promising when combined with the use of environmentally friendly reagents)

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Conclusion