Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.V.

Protolife Srl.

John Simpson McCaskill

Patrick Wagler

Tobias Foster

Thomas Maeke

In the method for mixing-free transport of homogeneous liquids in microchannels a heterogeneous liquid flow () is autonomously divided into portions, transported over a distance and then autonomously recombined. When the flow is divided into portions, individual volumes of a second liquid (), which may be but must not be homogeneous, are introduced between volume fractions lying one behind the other of the heterogeneous liquid flow (). While the volume fractions of the heterogeneous liquid () that lye close to one another would mix with each other without this measure being taken, separation of the individual volume fractions allows these volume fractions, and thus the heterogeneous liquid (), to be transported over large distances without any mixing occurring. Treatment of the volume fractions of the heterogeneous liquid () requires separation of the liquid flow () of alternating volume fractions of the two liquids () such that again two flows are produced, one of which being the heterogeneous starting liquid and the other being the second liquid. Since both processes can take place autonomously by self-organization of the phases, an overall solution for the mixing-free transport of a heterogeneous liquid without employment of expensive fractionating apparatus can be achieved.

Method for transferring heterogeneous liquids in microchannels without the occurrence of mixing

The configurable microreactor network of the invention comprises a substrate in which a plurality of overpassing channels are arranged. Said channels are optionally interconnectable via connecting channel arrangements. Between said channels, microreactors are arranged which are connected with the channels. Here, too, channel-connecting arrangements are employed. Said channel-connecting arrangements comprise a plurality of connecting channels in which blocking elements can be positioned or inserted in any other way or activated. The arrangement and/or state of the blocking elements allows the highest possible integration density to be reached respectively for each of a series of specified degrees of (re-) configuration flexibility (the necessity of which depends on the application type).

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Bonn, Germany

John Simpson McCaskill