(8g) Modular Multiple Microfluidic (M3) Reactors for the Synthesis of Polymer Particles

The challenge in scaling up the productivity of microfluidic particle synthesis in parallel reactors lies in preserving the unique monodispersity of particles synthesized in a single microfluidic reactor, that is, in the ability to generate precursor droplets with narrow size distribution that can be consecutively polymerized or gelled. We report a study of the generation of polymer particles in parallel modular multiple microfluidic (M3) reactors. Each module consists of sixteen parallel microfluidic reactors comprising the emulsification and the polymerization parts. We identified and examined the effect of the following factors that could result in the broadening of the distribution of droplets and the corresponding particles in the M3 reactors, in comparison with a single reactor: (i) Fidelity in the fabrication of multiple microfluidic droplet generators; (ii) Crosstalk between parallel droplet generators sharing a single liquid supply source. (iii) Coalescence of precursor droplets and/or polymer particles; (iv) Blocking of microchannels. Preliminary result shows that the M3 reactor can synthesize monodisperse polymer particles with productivity over 100 grams/hr.