Effect of mixing on mass transfer characterization in continuous slugs and dispersed droplets in biphasic slug flow microreactors

The mass transfer of slug flow, a widely applied flow pattern in microreactors, is still difficult to predict mainly due the competing nature between convection and diffusion. This work focused on influence mixing mechanism performance under gas–liquid liquid–liquid both continuous slugs dispersed droplets. Colorimetric study with resazurin oxidation system was implemented, where resistance constantly located aqueous phase. In hydrophilic glass microreactor, featured by intensive internal circulation and/or inter-slug leakage dominated diffusion, leading nearly-constant kLa along channel given rates. However, hydrophobic PTFE capillary, stagnant region constituted significant share droplet, indicating prominent role diffusion against therein. As result, values decreased main length fixed operating conditions. Accordingly, prediction models were respectively correlated depending mechanisms. Moreover, contributions from bubble droplet formation stages also investigated. expected shed light judicious process design reliable predictions microreactor operations.