The smaller characteristic dimensions in microscale devices leads to extremely high surface to volume ratio (S/V), which in turn provides several advantages over conventional-size reactors, mixers and heat transfer equipments, such as
1. higher transport (e.g. heat and mass transfer) rates;
2. safe environment for hazardous or toxic chemicals (due to low amount of chemicals used during process);
3. simplify process control for effective process/materials screening
(due to extremely short response time);
4. on-demand or on-site synthesis of critical chemicals such as H2O2,ethylene oxide;
5. no strict limit in size reduction or expansion of plant components since any production
capacity is achievable by means of parallel operation;
6. development of intergrated chemical analytical platforms as in micrototal analysis
systems.