CYTOS^®: how to benefit from microreaction technology

CYTOS^® is the exchangeable reaction unit inside CYTOS^® Lab System, which consists of microstructured stacked plates. Compared to conventional reactors, CYTOS^® offers:

• optimal mixing
• efficient heat transfer
• small reaction volumes (high safety!).

Physical data

Microstructured plates:	Stainless steel Material-No. 1.4301 or Hastelloy C276
Dimension:	10 × 15 cm
Weight:	1.2 kg
Internal Volume:	1.1 ml (reactant side, after mixing) 12 ml (heat exchanger)

One reactor fits all!
        CYTOS^® for various reactions!

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Optimal Mixing

Laminar flows dominate microchannels, contrary to vessels. With a channel width of less than 0.1 mm, it is hardly possible to produce turbulence. In these regimes, mixing by diffusion becomes very fast. Provided the geometry of the reactant flows is suitable, perfect mixing is achieved in fractions of a second. And due to the constant flow of the reactants, the relative ratios of the reactants are constant.

Vessel 5 m3, stirred with 500 rpm, concentration profile after 2 s.		Microchannel, continuous addition of reagent, perfect mixing after 1 s
	Reagent concentration = 1 (homogenized mixture)
	Reagent concentration ≥ 1.2
	Reagent concentration ≤ 0.8

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Efficient heat transfer

CYTOS^® has, caused by the much improved surface to volume ratio, a heat exchange capability that is orders of magnitude better than with conventional vessels. Regarding material of CYTOS^®, due to the small wall diameters different materials can be considered.

Vessel 5 m3, stirred with 500 rpm, temperature profile after 2s.		Temperature profile in microchannel with continuous neutralisation reaction.

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Small reaction volumes

The hold-up of CYTOS^® is of a few milliliters. Combined with the flame-arrestor effect of the small channels, microreactors are inherently safe tools for labs, pilot plants and production sites. Potentially hazardous reactions can be handled much easier because of the vastly reduced hold-up of dangerous reactants and solvents.

Reaction control depending on the reaction volume in a conventional vessel		Reaction control depending on the reaction volume in a CPC-Systems microreactor