Selective condensation reaction of phenols and hydroxybenzyl alcohol using micromixers based on collision of fluid segments

In the production of bisphenol F, fast mixing and feed operation with a high flow rate ratio of two reactant fluids are crucial for improvement of product selectivity and productivity. To contribute to these issues, we have developed two micromixers, the K-M mixer and the dual pipe mixer. In the K-M mixer, reactant fluids are divided into fluid segments and, then, the segments collide at a single point, where shear is applied to enhance mixing performance. In the dual pipe mixer, one reactant fluid flows in the inner tube and the other fluid flows from the outer tube into the inner tube through the holes pierced on the inner tube wall. By this geometry, the second reactant fluid is divided into several segments, which penetrate into the first reactant fluid. These two mixers realize high mixing performance and can be operated under a high flow rate ratio of two reactant fluids.