Mikroreaktory

Mikroreaktory, the Polish term for microreactors, are small-volume reactors used for continuous-flow chemical synthesis. They employ microfabricated channels or capillaries with volumes typically in the microliter to milliliter range. The small scale provides a high surface-to-volume ratio, enabling efficient heat transfer, precise control of temperature and residence time, and safer handling of hazardous or highly exothermic reactions.

Most mikroreaktory designs rely on laminar flow, with mixing achieved through micromixing structures or chaotic advection. Reagents are pumped through the device, and temperature is regulated by jackets or integrated heating and cooling. Materials for construction include glass, stainless steel, silicon, and various polymers, chosen for chemical compatibility and, in photochemical applications, optical transparency. Scale-up is generally achieved by numbering up—operating many identical microreactors in parallel—or by integrating multiple reaction stages within a single device.

Applications span pharmaceutical synthesis, fine chemical production, materials science, and specialty fields such as photochemistry and electrochemistry. Mikroreaktory enable rapid reaction screening, inline analytical monitoring, and precise control of residence time, temperature, and mixing, contributing to reproducible product quality and easier automation.

Advantages of mikroreaktory include superior heat and mass transfer, improved safety profiles, reduced reagent consumption, and accelerated process development. Challenges include potential for clogging or fouling, complexity of equipment and control systems, higher initial capital costs, and the need for careful reactor design and process integration. In pharmaceutical manufacturing, regulatory considerations further shape their implementation.