Chromatography as an inspiration for microreactors

In the shift from batch to continuous operations, microreactors, at least in academic research, have become an important segment. One of the next steps in process intensification is believed to be the reduction of axial dispersion, which will not only yield higher efficiencies but also allow integration of the reactor unit with downstream processing. Chromatographic (micro)devices are very interesting in this context as they successfully combine a narrow residence time distribution with a high separation factor. In the present review the low dispersion in microreactors is discussed, with emphasis on throughput, packing and flow distribution units. Subsequently, the relevance and progress during the last decade of combined reaction and separations in chromatographic and membrane based systems is treated. (c) 2015 Society of Chemical Industry