Systems and methods for producing a chemical product
AssigneePurdue Research Foundation
InventorsAndy Koswara, Zoltan Kalman Nagy, Conor Douglas Parks
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention generally provides systems and methods for producing a chemical product. In certain embodiments, the invention provides systems that include a chemical product production unit. The chemical production unit includes a plurality of microfluidic modules configured to be fluidically coupled to each other in an arrangement that produces a chemical product from an input of a plurality of starting reagents that react with each other due to conditions within the plurality of microfluidic modules through which the starting reagents flow. The system also includes a droplet dispenser fluidically coupled to the chemical product production unit that forms and dispenses droplets of the chemical product.
Claims18
A system for producing a chemical product, the system comprising:
- a chemical product production unit comprising a plurality of microfluidic modules configured to be fluidically coupled to each other in an arrangement that produces a chemical product from an input of a plurality of starting reagents that react with each other due to conditions within the plurality of microfluidic modules through which the starting reagents flow;
- a droplet dispenser fluidically coupled to the chemical product production unit that forms and dispenses droplets of the chemical product;
- and
- a controller comprising a program configured to implement an anti-fouling algorithm that reduces or eliminates fouling in at least one of the plurality of microfluidic modules.
A method for producing a chemical product, the method comprising:
- providing a system comprising a chemical product production unit that comprises a plurality of microfluidic modules, a droplet dispenser fluidically coupled to the chemical product production unit, a controller comprising a program configured to implement an anti-fouling algorithm that reduces or eliminates fouling in at least one of the plurality of microfluidic modules;
- introducing a plurality of starting reagents to the chemical product production unit;
- flowing the starting reagents through the chemical product production unit, such that a portion of a reaction occurs in each of the plurality of microfluidic modules in order to form a chemical product, under conditions implemented by the anti-fouling algorithm that reduces or eliminates fouling in at least one of the plurality of microfluidic modules;
- and
- dispensing a droplet of the chemical product using the droplet dispenser.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.