(417d) Intensification and Scale-up of Bioinspired Silica: Experimental and Computational Investigations of Mixing

Nanomaterials have a vast potential in applications and while many new nanomaterials are being discovered, their manufacturing is unsustainable and therefore their potential is not realised. With the example of bioinspired silica (BIS), we report on understanding the underpinning mixing mechanisms and develop a methodology for process scale-up and intensification. This presentation will provide experimental and computational investigations of mixing using a multi-inlet vortex mixers (MIVM) at different scales. MVIM provide a wide range of flow conditions (Re = 10-10,000) and energy dissipation (ϵ = 10^-1 – 10³ W/kg), covering the lab-scales as well as plant scales, hence they are very useful in this research. The MVIM were characterised using Villermaux-Dushman reaction approaches and computation fluid dynamics. Next, the flow properties, the BIS formation process and the particle properties were investigated using a systematic experimental approach. These results (V-D and BIS synthesis) and their comparisons will be presented in order to develop mixing knowledge and scale-up rules.