ABSTRACT
This chapter shows the developments in mass-transfer and reaction-kinetic studies, mainly concerning the application of microfluidic platforms in studying solvent extraction processes. It introduces the fundamental knowledge for liquid–liquid biphasic flows in microspaces. The chapter summarizes some important discoveries in understanding mass transfer and reaction kinetics and proposes the recent developments in microflow-based kinetic studies. Mass-transfer kinetics is mostly explored through the value of the mass-transfer coefficient. One of the most attractive characters of microfluidics to chemical engineers is the acceleration of mass-transfer kinetics. Microfluidic solvent extraction is not only a potential intensification approach for separation processes but also an ideal method for determining the mass-transfer and reaction kinetics of liquid–liquid systems. In the kinetic study of mass transfer and chemical reactions, the liquid–liquid segmented flow and parallel flow are commonly used. Microfluidics enable chemical engineers to conduct kinetic experiments under well-defined conditions with rapid mass transfer and a regular interface shape.
