Functionali/ed Inorganic Monolithic Microreactors for High Productivity in Fine Chemicals Catalytic Synthesis

摘要

Continuous-flow catalytic microreactors offer safe, eco-friendly, and intensified processes for the long-term production of fine chemicals. In many cases, flexible production with higher yields in much shorter time can be achieved than in batch reactions. One can identify three kinds of flow microreactors, namely parallel open microchannels, packed beds, and monoliths. The use of monolithic structured catalysts overcomes some physico-chemical drawbacks, such as fluid dynamics, pressure drop, heat and mass transfer, low contacting efficiency, and mechanical attrition, associated with conventional packed-bed reactors. However, the monolithic structured catalysts will not solve any issue related to chemical deactivation of the catalyst. Monolith reactors are composed of 1-5 mm parallel channels or foams with interconnected 0.1-1.0 mm flow-through pores, and are mainly used in gas phase reactions or catalytic combustion.