| abstract |
A chemical processing microsystem useful for identifying and optimizing materials (e.g., catalysts) that enhance chemical processes or for characterizing and/or optimizing chemical processes is disclosed. The chemical processing microsytem comprises a plurality of microreactors (600) and, in a preferred embodiment, a plurality of microseparators (900) integral with the chemical processing microsystem (10). The microreactors (600) are preferably diffusion-mixed microreactors formed in a plurality of laminae that include a modular, interchangeable candidate-material array (100). The material array (100) comprises a plurality of different candidate materials (e.g., catalysts), preferably arranged at separate, individually addressable portions of a substrate (e.g., wafer). The microseparators (900) are similarly formed in a plurality of laminae that include a modular, interchangeable adsorbent array (700). The adsorbent array (700) comprises one or more adsorbents, preferably arranged at separate, individually addressable portions of a substrate to spatially correspond to the plurality of different candidate materials. Modular microfluidic distribution systems are also disclosed. The chemical processing mcrosystem can be integrated into a material evaluation system that enables a comprehensive combinatorial material science research program. |