Research David Fernandez Rivas

“Efficient Sonochemical Microreactors”

Sonochemistry is known as the chemical effects occurring after the unstable cavitation (implosion) of microbubbles. During these cavitation events high temperatures and pressures are achieved inside the bubbles (aprox. 1000 K and 1000 bar). The miniaturization of several chemical reactors is one of the most promising trends in current science. The applications that could benefit from the correct understanding of microbubbles cavitation cover several activities, from high temperature and pressure reactions, to the destruction of cancerous cells, to the ultrasound applications for lithotripsy, or diagnose techniques of unborn fetus. Purification of water, special food, chemical compounds and reactions that require complex and dangerous conditions (temperature and pressure) can be carried out in microfluidic chips with a considerable saving in reactants, increased efficiency and safer operation conditions. Cavitation of bubbles can be achieved in different ways; the most commonly used are by ultrasound and flow constrictions. Our main objective is the design and fabrication of efficient microreactors for carrying out specific chemical reactions.