Ehrfeld Wolfgang, Golbig Klaus, Hessel Volker. Characterization of Mixing in Micromixers by a Test Reaction

Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 1999, 38, 1075-1082The mixing quality of a single mixing unit and mixer arrays having various designs was
characterized. A known test reaction for mixing quality had to be optimized, since a much higher
sensitivity as for the characterization of macroscopic mixers was needed. This adapted test
reaction allowed not only the characterization of the mixing quality but also analysis of the
homogeneity of the flow distribution between parallely aligned mixing units. A comparison of
the mixing quality to those of macroscopic reference systems (like mixing in stirred and unstirred
vessels as well as to laminar and turbulent mixing-tees) is presented. The mixing qualityvolume
flow dependence revealed a complex behavior, the hydrodynamic origin of which has
been analyzed.