for radical polymerization of MMA has been built by numbering-up eight
microtube reactors, which can be operated continuously for 6 days to produce
4.0 kg of the polymer, indicating that flow microreactor systems can be used for
industrial production of polymers (Fig. 44) [167]. The information accumulated in
laboratories and pilot plants should enable the development of this field to realize
commercial plants for making polymers in the future.
1.10 Conclusion
The examples shown in this review article demonstrate that a variety of methods for
polymer synthesis have been developed in flow microreactors. Continuous flow
synthesis enables serial combinatorial synthesis, in which a variety of polymers can
be synthesized in a sequential way using a single flow reactor with a flow switch.
Space integration, which enables the synthesis of structurally well-defined
polymers without isolating living polymer ends, also enhances the power and
speed of polymer synthesis. Because several test plants for continuous production
have already been built, there is no doubt that flow microreactors can contribute to
polymer production in industry.
In conclusion, continuous flow polymer synthesis will be an indispensable
technology for laboratory research and production in industry. Various methods
for polymer synthesis by virtue of the characteristic features of flow microreactors
will be developed, and they will work together to help meet the demanding
expectations of polymer chemistry in the future.
References
1. Hessel V, Hardt S, L€ owe H (2004) Chemical micro process engineering. Wiley, Weinheim
2. Wirth T (2008) Microreactors in organic synthesis and catalysis. Wiley, Weinheim
3. Hessel V, Renken A, Schouten JC et al (2009) Micro process engineering. Wiley, Weinheim
4. Watts P, Wiles C (2011) Micro reaction technology in organic synthesis. CRC, New York
5. Fletcher PDI, Haswell SJ, Pombo-Villar E et al (2002) Micro reactors: principles and
applications in organic synthesis. Tetrahedron 58:4735–4757
6. J€ ahnisch K, Hessel V, L€ owe H et al (2004) Chemistry in microstructured reactors. Angew
Chem Int Ed 43:406–446
7. Kiwi-Minsker L, Renken A (2005) Microstructured reactors for catalytic reactions. Catal
Today 110:2–14
8. Doku GN, Verboom W, Reinhoudt DN et al (2005) On-microchip multiphase chemistry – a
review of microreactor design principles and reagent contacting modes. Tetrahedron
61:2733–2742
9. Watts P, Haswell SJ (2005) The application of micro reactors for organic synthesis. Chem
Soc Rev 34:235–246
10. Geyer K, Codee JDC, Seeberger PH (2006) Microreactors as tools for synthetic chemists-the
chemists’ round-bottomed flask of the 21st century? Chem Eur J 12:8434–8442
11. Whitesides G (2006) The origins and the future of microfluidics. Nature 442:368–373
Controlled Polymerization in Flow Microreactor Systems
39
microtube reactors, which can be operated continuously for 6 days to produce
4.0 kg of the polymer, indicating that flow microreactor systems can be used for
industrial production of polymers (Fig. 44) [167]. The information accumulated in
laboratories and pilot plants should enable the development of this field to realize
commercial plants for making polymers in the future.
1.10 Conclusion
The examples shown in this review article demonstrate that a variety of methods for
polymer synthesis have been developed in flow microreactors. Continuous flow
synthesis enables serial combinatorial synthesis, in which a variety of polymers can
be synthesized in a sequential way using a single flow reactor with a flow switch.
Space integration, which enables the synthesis of structurally well-defined
polymers without isolating living polymer ends, also enhances the power and
speed of polymer synthesis. Because several test plants for continuous production
have already been built, there is no doubt that flow microreactors can contribute to
polymer production in industry.
In conclusion, continuous flow polymer synthesis will be an indispensable
technology for laboratory research and production in industry. Various methods
for polymer synthesis by virtue of the characteristic features of flow microreactors
will be developed, and they will work together to help meet the demanding
expectations of polymer chemistry in the future.
References
1. Hessel V, Hardt S, L€ owe H (2004) Chemical micro process engineering. Wiley, Weinheim
2. Wirth T (2008) Microreactors in organic synthesis and catalysis. Wiley, Weinheim
3. Hessel V, Renken A, Schouten JC et al (2009) Micro process engineering. Wiley, Weinheim
4. Watts P, Wiles C (2011) Micro reaction technology in organic synthesis. CRC, New York
5. Fletcher PDI, Haswell SJ, Pombo-Villar E et al (2002) Micro reactors: principles and
applications in organic synthesis. Tetrahedron 58:4735–4757
6. J€ ahnisch K, Hessel V, L€ owe H et al (2004) Chemistry in microstructured reactors. Angew
Chem Int Ed 43:406–446
7. Kiwi-Minsker L, Renken A (2005) Microstructured reactors for catalytic reactions. Catal
Today 110:2–14
8. Doku GN, Verboom W, Reinhoudt DN et al (2005) On-microchip multiphase chemistry – a
review of microreactor design principles and reagent contacting modes. Tetrahedron
61:2733–2742
9. Watts P, Haswell SJ (2005) The application of micro reactors for organic synthesis. Chem
Soc Rev 34:235–246
10. Geyer K, Codee JDC, Seeberger PH (2006) Microreactors as tools for synthetic chemists-the
chemists’ round-bottomed flask of the 21st century? Chem Eur J 12:8434–8442
11. Whitesides G (2006) The origins and the future of microfluidics. Nature 442:368–373
Controlled Polymerization in Flow Microreactor Systems
39