Microfabricated devices for fluid mixing and their application for chemical synthesis

Over the last few decades, the processes of miniaturization, integration, and automation have revolutionized the world of science and industry. Within a chemical reaction process the unit operations, mixing, heating, and cooling, can be regarded as key steps. In microreactors, enhanced heat and mass transport, due to small characteristic dimensions together with large surface to volume ratios, are expected to open up a whole range of new possibilities. Increase in reaction yield, reduction of reaction time as well as byproduct formation, inherent process safety, and even completely new process routes are some of the advantages associated with microTAS (micro Total Analysis Systems) or microSYNTAS (micro SYNthesis Total Analysis Systems). This article aims to describe the development of microfabricated devices for fluid mixing, so-called micromixers, and their application for chemical synthesis.