This invention is in the field of surface modification. In particular, the invention relates to the surface modification of microfluidic devices to alter surface hydrophobicity characteristics.

The present invention relates to a device for the photocatalytic reduction of a substance with a structured reaction plate and/or a structured housing, wherein the reaction plate has, at least in some regions, a surface which contains a material with negative electron affinity and which can be electronically excited with radiation having a wavelength of ≥180 nm.

Systems and methods for synthesizing chemical products, including active pharmaceutical ingredients, are provided. Certain of the systems and methods described herein are capable of manufacturing multiple chemical products without the need to fluidically connect or disconnect unit operations when switching from one making chemical product to making another chemical product.

The invention provides methods of making laminated devices (especially microchannel devices) in which plates are assembled and welded together. Unlike conventional microchannel devices, the inventive laminated devices can be made without brazing or diffusion bonding; thus providing significant advantages for manufacturing. Features such as expansion joints and external welded supports are also described. Laminated devices and methods of conducting unit operations in laminated devices are also described.

The disclosed invention relates to a method for restarting a synthesis gas conversion process which has stopped. The synthesis gas conversion process may be conducted in a conventional reactor or a microchannel reactor. The synthesis gas conversion process may comprise a process for converting synthesis gas to methane, methanol or dimethyl ether. The synthesis gas conversion process may be a Fischer-Tropsch process.

The invention relates to a reactor system for continuous flow reactions that comprises at least two blocks (1, 2), two interlayers (8, 9) and a contact pressure device, and at least one inlet (10) and one outlet (11), wherein the first block (1), the interlayers (8, 9) and the second block (2) form a stacked arrangement fixed by the contact pressure device and, in the reactor system, at least one interlayer comprises a sealing layer (8) and one interlayer comprises channel structure element (9) comprising a reaction channel, wherein the inlet (10) is functionally connected to the inlet side of the reaction channel and the outlet (11) to the outlet side of the reaction channel, and the stacked arrangement is detachable.

Reactors are provided that can include a first set of fluid channels and a second set of fluid channels oriented in thermal contact with the first set of fluid channels. The reactor assemblies can also provide where the channels of either one or both of the first of the set of fluid channels are non-linear. Other implementations provide for at least one of the first set of fluid channels being in thermal contact with a plurality of other channels of the second set of fluid channels. Reactor assemblies are also provided that can include a first set of fluid channels defining at least one non-linear channel having a positive function, and a second set of fluid channels defining at least another non-linear channel having a negative function in relation to the positive function of the one non-linear channel of the first set of fluid channels. Processes for distributing energy across a reactor are provided. The processes can include transporting reactants via a first set of fluid channels to a second set of fluid channels, and thermally engaging at least one of the first set of fluid channels with at least two of the second set of fluid channels.

Systems and methods for synthesizing chemical products, including active pharmaceutical ingredients, are provided. Certain of the systems and methods described herein are capable of manufacturing multiple chemical products without the need to fluidically connect or disconnect unit operations when switching from one making chemical product to making another chemical product.

The disclosed invention relates to a method for restarting a synthesis gas conversion process which has stopped. The synthesis gas conversion process may be conducted in a conventional reactor or a microchannel reactor. The synthesis gas conversion process may comprise a process for converting synthesis gas to methane, methanol or dimethyl ether. The synthesis gas conversion process may be a Fischer-Tropsch process.

A method of loading material within a microchannel device, the method comprising: (a) loading particulates into a plurality of microchannels; and, (b) ultrasonically packing the particulates into the plurality of microchannels using a portable, compact ultrasonic densification unit.