Ultrasound-assisted capillary microreactor for aqueous-organic multiphase reactions

A simple capillary microreactor was tested as a potential reactor to carry out a multiphase reaction. The hydrolysis of benzyl chloride in a biphasic system was investigated. The capillary microreactor was irradiated by 28 kHz ultrasound at different temperatures, capillary lengths and phase flow rates. It was found that the combination of microreactor technique and the ultrasound irradiation provides a promising protocol for process intensification. Under sonication conditions, higher conversions were obtained compared to silent conditions. The presence of ultrasound has affected the multiphase slug size and promoted better internal circulation within these slugs. Similar reactivities were noticed at higher temperature for both sonication and silent conditions. (C) 2009 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.