flowchemistry

=**6. The Future of Flow Chemistry** = toc

6.1 Current Applications of Flow Chemistry in Industry
Currently, flow reactors are not in widespread use in the chemical industry outside of the pharmaceutical sector. Being a relatively new technology, it will take time for these reactors to be implemented in large-scale chemical plants more common in the energy sector. The technology continues to be refined, and continuing success in the pharmaceutical will hopefully inspire change in other sectors. Figure 1 below shows a plug flow reactor, an industrial-scale flow reactor.

Pharmaceutical manufacturing processes tend to be better-suited to current implementations of continuous flow reactors largely due to the lesser amount of product, and lower flow rates demanded by pharmaceutical manufacturing processes. By maintaining small flow rates, the flow regime in the reactor remains a higher laminar character, and will ensure constant contact with a packed bed catalyst. Also, the importance of temperature regulation and other fine processes in the pharmaceutical sector make it a natural fit as a first step for this technology. 

**6.2 Future Directions in Flow Chemistry**
  In order to scale up to large-scale chemical plants, such as those in the energy sector, several challenges must be addressed. In order to cope with the larger volumes required in an oil refining plant, adaptations must be made to compensate for the more turbulent nature of flow in such a reactor. As the concept continues to prove itself in smaller-scale operations, work will continue to bring the concept forward into new sectors.

 Flow reactors currently excel in fields where high yield and fine control over reaction conditions are the most important factors, opposed to raw output. With further research, hopefully flow reactors will see greater implementation in more areas.

