Using microparticles to enhance micromixing in a high frequency continuous flow sonoreactor

In this paper, an experimental study was conducted to investigate the effect of high frequency ultrasound wave on micromixing efficiency in the presence of polymeric microparticles in a tubular sonoreactor. The size and volume fraction of polymeric microparticles were varied and the micromixing efficiency was studied by adopting the Dushman reaction coupled with a neutralization reaction. In addition, the effect of flow rate and liquid viscosity on the segregation index was studied. The experimental results showed that the movement and dispersion of the polymeric microparticles by ultrasound wave could improve the micromixing efficiency. The results showed that the size of the polymeric microparticles has great effect on mixing. Moreover, it was found that in the presence of these microparticles, segregation index decreases significantly and their effect reduces with increase in the solution viscosity. The presented results show that using high frequency ultrasound waves in the range of MHz and in the presence of microparticles can promise to reach an efficient micromixing in tubular sonoreactors.