LiquidWallCat · Embedding catalysts in liquid wall flow devices

Flow reactors offer benefits over batch reactions, such as precise control over conditions and high turnover numbers of catalysts through immobilization in packed beds. However, the small dimensions of the flow reactor lead to increased friction between solvent and reactor wall, which causes loss in efficiency. In addition, flow systems are vulnerable to reagents that may foul or clog the system. The host group recently developed microfluidic tubes with ferrofluid walls. The walls are kept in place by a quadrupolar arrangement of magnets, while their liquid nature diminishes the friction at the interface and prevents particles from clogging the system by temporarily expanding the microtube when necessary. In this project, I intend to improve on this system by embedding well-established catalysts immobilized on magnetite nanoparticles into the ferrofluid. This will allow us to achieve the high turnover numbers that are common for flow reactors containing immobilized catalysts, while benefiting from the low-friction and anti-clogging properties of the liquid wall tubes. In addition, I will perform mechanistic analysis of the newly developed flow reactions in liquid wall tubes. This will aid the broader scientific community to further expand the utility of this new technology. As such, the project promises important improvements in the field of flow chemistry. The highly interdisciplinary nature of the project allows me to fully apply my expertise in the field of catalysis, while benefiting from knowledge transfer in microfluidics, in which the host research group has an expertise.