Abstract: A microfluidic device comprises at least one reactant passage defined by walls and comprising at least one parallel multiple flow path configuration comprising a group of elementary design patterns being able to provide mixing and/or residence time which are arranged in series with fluid communication so as to constitute flow paths, and in parallel so as to constitute a multiple flow path elementary design pattern, wherein the parallel multiple flow path configuration comprises at least two communicating zones between elementary design patterns of two adjacent parallel flow paths, said communicating zones being in the same plane as that defined by said elementary design patterns between which said communicating zone is placed and allowing passage of fluid in order to minimize mass flow rate difference between adjacent parallel flow paths which have the same flow direction.

Abstract: A microreactor assembly (100) is provided comprising a fluidic microstructure (10) and an injector assembly (20). The injector assembly (20) comprises a liquid inlet (22), a gas inlet (24), a liquid outlet (26), a gas outlet (28), a liquid flow portion (30) extending from the liquid inlet (22) to the liquid outlet (26), and a gas flow portion (40) extending from the gas inlet (24) to the gas outlet (28). Further, the injector assembly (20) defines an injection interface with a microchannel input port (14) of the fluidic microstructure (10). The injector assembly (20) is configured such that the gas outlet (28) of the gas flow portion (40) is positioned to inject gas into the liquid flow portion (30) upstream of the liquid outlet (26), into the liquid flow portion (30) at the liquid outlet (26), or into an extension (35) of the liquid flow portion (30) downstream of the liquid outlet (26).

Abstract: A membrane microstructure device is disclosed. The membrane microstructure device includes a first glass, ceramic or glass-ceramic plate defining a first recess, a second glass, ceramic or glass-ceramic plate defining a second recess, and a non-metallic porous membrane sandwiched between the first and second plates. The first plate, second plate and porous membrane are joined together and the porous membrane is arranged to cover the first and second recesses to define a first microchannel between the first plate and the porous membrane and a second microchannel in fluid communication with the first microchannel between the second plate and the porous membrane. A method of manufacturing a membrane microstructure device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A microfluidic device [10] includes at least one reactant passage [26] and one or more thermal control passages defined therein, the one or more thermal control passages being positioned and arranged within two volumes [12,14] each bordered by a wall [18,20], the walls being generally planar and parallel to one another, the reactant passage positioned between said generally planar walls and defined by said generally planar walls and walls [28] extending between said generally planar walls, wherein the reactant passage comprises multiple successive chambers [34], each such chamber including a split of the reactant passage into at least two sub-passages [36], and a joining [38] of the split passages, and a change of passage direction, of at least one of the sub-passages, of at least 90 degrees.

Abstract: A microreaction device or system (4) includes at least one thermal control fluidic passage (C,E) and a principal working fluidic passage (A) with average cross-sectional area in the range of 0.25 to 100 mm2, and having a primary entrance (92) and multiple secondary entrances (94) with the spacing between secondary entrances (94) having a length along the passage (A) of at least two times the root of the average cross-sectional area of the passage (A). The device or system (4) also includes at least one secondary working fluidic passage (B) having an entrance (102) and multiple exits (106) including a final exit (106), each exit (106) being in fluid communication with a corresponding one of the multiple secondary entrances (94) of the principal fluidic passage (A).

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a thermal buffer fluid passage and a reactant passage having mixing and dwell time sub-passages all defined within an extended body, the dwell-time sub-passage having at least 1 ml volume, and the mixing sub-passage being in the form of a unitary mixer not requiring precise splitting of flows to provide good mixing. The device is desirably formed in glass or glass-ceramic. The unitary mixer is structured to generate secondary flows in the reactant fluid and is preferably closely thermally coupled to the buffer fluid passage by sharing one or more common walls.

Abstract: Structured catalysts comprising thick porous inorganic catalyst support coatings disposed on monolithic catalyst support structures, the support coatings having open interconnected porosities of controlled pore size but being characterized by improved durability, physical integrity, and adherence sufficient for use in liquid phase applications under harsh reaction conditions, and methods for making and using them, are disclosed.

Abstract: A class of designs is provided for a mixer in micro reactors where the design principle includes at least one injection zone in a continuous flow path where at least two fluids achieve initial upstream contact and an effective mixing zone (i.e. adequate flow of fluids and optimal pressure drop) containing a series of mixer elements in the path. Each mixer element is preferably designed with a chamber at each end in which an obstacle is placed (thereby reducing the typical inner dimension of the chamber) and with optional restrictions in the channel segments. The obstacles are preferably cylindrical pillars but can have any geometry within a range of dimensions and may be in series or parallel along the flow path to provide the desired flow-rate, mixing and pressure-drop. The injection zone may have two or more interfaces and may include one or more cores to control fluids before mixing.

Abstract: A membrane microstructure device is disclosed. The membrane microstructure device includes a first glass, ceramic or glass-ceramic plate defining a first recess, a second glass, ceramic or glass-ceramic plate defining a second recess, and a non-metallic porous membrane sandwiched between the first and second plates. The first plate, second plate and porous membrane are joined together and the porous membrane is arranged to cover the first and second recesses to define a first microchannel between the first plate and the porous membrane and a second microchannel in fluid communication with the first microchannel between the second plate and the porous membrane. A method of manufacturing a membrane microstructure device is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for treating a gas-liquid feed stream with structured monolithic catalysts of honeycomb configuration wherein the catalysts are configured as a stack of honeycomb sections with offset channels, the resulting channel dislocations between adjacent contacting honeycombs in the stack introducing controlled, limited turbulence and mixing of feed stream portions traversing the channels to significantly increase the catalytic efficiency of the reactor.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for maintaining a volumetric gas to liquid ratio in a segmented gas/liquid flow along a reactor of monolithic catalyst beds in series. The present invention includes the steps of: initiating the segmented gas/liquid flow at a first end of the reactor by introducing feed liquid and feed gas both at a predetermined volume and a predetermined flow rate; injecting an additional amount of gas at least once into any of the spaces between catalyst beds; and combining the segments of the segmented gas/liquid flow at a second end of the reactor. The injection of gas is controlled such that the segmented gas/liquid flow can be maintained near or at the Taylor regime.

Abstract: A microstructure for chemical processing and manufacture is disclosed. The microstructure includes a plurality of microchannel walls constructed of glass, ceramic, glass-ceramic or combinations of these materials, which define at least one microchannel for accommodating chemicals to be processed. At least one coating layer including a catalyst support and a catalyst is adhered to the plurality of microchannel walls. A method of manufacturing a microstructure for chemical processing and manufacture is also disclosed.

Abstract: A chemical processing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a pressure vessel and a microreactor disposed within the pressure vessel. The pressure vessel is constructed and arranged to maintain the pressure vessel and the microreactor at elevated pressure when a chemical operation is performed within the apparatus. A method of operating a microreactor at high pressure is also disclosed.

Abstract: Structured catalysts comprising thick porous inorganic catalyst support coatings disposed on monolithic catalyst support structures, the support coatings having open interconnected porosities of controlled pore size but being characterized by improved durability, physical integrity, and adherence sufficient for use in liquid phase applications under harsh reaction conditions, and methods for making and using them, are disclosed.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for maintaining a volumetric gas to liquid ratio in a segmented gas/liquid flow along a reactor of monolithic catalyst beds in series. The present invention includes the steps of: initiating the segmented gas/liquid flow at a first end of the reactor by introducing feed liquid and feed gas both at a predetermined volume and a predetermined flow rate; injecting an additional amount of gas at least once into any of the spaces between catalyst beds; and combining the segments of the segmented gas/liquid flow at a second end of the reactor. The injection of gas is controlled such that the segmented gas/liquid flow can be maintained near or at the Taylor regime.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for treating a gas-liquid feed stream with structured monolithic catalysts of honeycomb configuration wherein the catalysts are configured as a stack of honeycomb sections with offset channels, the resulting channel dislocations between adjacent contacting honeycombs in the stack introducing controlled, limited turbulence and mixing of feed stream portions traversing the channels to significantly increase the catalytic efficiency of the reactor.