Enabling batch and microfluidic non-thermal plasma chemistry: reactor design and testing

Roszkowska, P ORCID: 0000-0002-4055-7992, Dickenson, A, Higham, JE ORCID: 0000-0001-7577-0913, Easun, TL, Walsh, JL and Slater, AG ORCID: 0000-0002-1435-4331 (2023) Enabling batch and microfluidic non-thermal plasma chemistry: reactor design and testing. LAB ON A CHIP, 23 (12). pp. 2720-2728.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d3lc00016h

Abstract

Non-thermal plasma (NTP) is a promising state of matter for carrying out chemical reactions. NTP offers high densities of reactive species, without the need for a catalyst, while operating at atmospheric pressure and remaining at moderate temperature. Despite its potential, NTP cannot be used comprehensively in reactions until the complex interactions of NTP and liquids are better understood. To achieve this, NTP reactors that can overcome challenges with solvent evaporation, enable inline data collection, and achieve high selectivity, high yield, and high throughput are required. Here, we detail the construction of i) a microfluidic reactor for chemical reactions using NTP in organic solvents and ii) a corresponding batch setup for control studies and scale-up. The use of microfluidics enables controlled generation of NTP and subsequent mixing with reaction media without loss of solvent. The construction of a low-cost custom mount enables inline optical emission spectroscopy using a fibre optic probe at points along the fluidic pathway, which is used to probe species arising from NTP interacting with solvents. We demonstrate the decomposition of methylene blue in both reactors, developing an underpinning framework for applications in NTP chemical synthesis.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Biotechnology
Divisions:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > School of Physical Sciences
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	11 May 2023 15:47
Last Modified:	15 Mar 2024 03:40
DOI:	10.1039/d3lc00016h
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3170298