METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CARRYING OUT CHEMICAL REACTIONS USING A MICROLAMINAR MIXER

摘要

Described is a method of carrying out a reaction between at least two reactants (A, B) each of which is divided by an array of slit-shaped microchannels (1a, 1b) into separate laminae of fluid which subsequently emerge into a common mixing and reaction chamber. The laminae of fluid have a thickness of < 1000 .mu.m, preferably < 100 .mu.m, and a width:thickness ratio of at least 10. The invention calls for the reactants (A, B) to be made to emerge into the mixing/reaction chamber as thin laminae of fluid (6a, 6b), each lamina (6a) of reactant A being fed into the mixing/reaction chamber in the immediate vicinity of a lamina (6b) of reactant B. The adjacent laminae (6a, 6b) subsequently mix in the chamber by diffusion and/or turbulence. The mixing process is thus accelerated significantly compared to conventional reactors. With rapid chemical reactions, this enables the formation of undesired side-products or further-reaction products to be avoided to a considerable extent.