CFD Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment of Continuous Synthesis of Magnetite Nanoparticles Using 2D and 3D Micromixers
Magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) have attracted basic and applied research due to their immense potential to enable applications in fields as varied as drug delivery and bioremediation. Conventional synthesis schemes led to wide particle size distributions and inhomogeneous morphologies and crystallin...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Micromachines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/13/6/970 |
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| author | Sergio Leonardo Florez Ana Lucia Campaña M. Juliana Noguera Valentina Quezada Olga P. Fuentes Juan C. Cruz Johann F. Osma |
| author_facet | Sergio Leonardo Florez Ana Lucia Campaña M. Juliana Noguera Valentina Quezada Olga P. Fuentes Juan C. Cruz Johann F. Osma |
| author_sort | Sergio Leonardo Florez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) have attracted basic and applied research due to their immense potential to enable applications in fields as varied as drug delivery and bioremediation. Conventional synthesis schemes led to wide particle size distributions and inhomogeneous morphologies and crystalline structures. This has been attributed to the inability to control nucleation and growth processes under the conventional conditions of bulk batch processes. Here, we attempted to address these issues by scaling down the synthesis process aided by microfluidic devices, as they provide highly controlled and stable mixing patterns. Accordingly, we proposed three micromixers with different channel configurations, namely, serpentine, triangular, and a 3D arrangement with abrupt changes in fluid direction. The micromixers were first studied in silico, aided by Comsol Multiphysics<sup>®</sup> to investigate the obtained mixing patterns, and consequently, their potential for controlled growth and the nucleation processes required to form MNPs of uniform size and crystalline structure. The devices were then manufactured using a low-cost approach based on polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and laser cutting. Testing the micromixers in the synthesis of MNPs revealed homogeneous morphologies and particle size distributions, and the typical crystalline structure reported previously. A life cycle assessment (LCA) analysis for the devices was conducted in comparison with conventional batch co-precipitation synthesis to investigate the potential impacts on water and energy consumption. The obtained results revealed that such consumptions are higher than those of the conventional process. However, they can be reduced by conducting the synthesis with reused micromixers, as new PMMA is not needed for their assembly prior to operation. We are certain that the proposed approach represents an advantageous alternative to co-precipitation synthesis schemes, in terms of continuous production and more homogeneous physicochemical parameters of interest such as size, morphologies, and crystalline structure. Future work should be directed towards improving the sustainability indicators of the micromixers’ manufacturing process. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:01:24Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-666X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:01:24Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
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| series | Micromachines |
| spelling | doaj.art-c477004253b447939ec5f3f98b21bf822023-11-23T18:02:25ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2022-06-0113697010.3390/mi13060970CFD Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment of Continuous Synthesis of Magnetite Nanoparticles Using 2D and 3D MicromixersSergio Leonardo Florez0Ana Lucia Campaña1M. Juliana Noguera2Valentina Quezada3Olga P. Fuentes4Juan C. Cruz5Johann F. Osma6Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes, Cra. 1E No. 19a-40, Bogota 111711, ColombiaDepartment of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes, Cra. 1E No. 19a-40, Bogota 111711, ColombiaDepartment of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes, Cra. 1E No. 19a-40, Bogota 111711, ColombiaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes, Cra. 1E No. 19a-40, Bogota 111711, ColombiaDepartment of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes, Cra. 1E No. 19a-40, Bogota 111711, ColombiaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes, Cra. 1E No. 19a-40, Bogota 111711, ColombiaDepartment of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes, Cra. 1E No. 19a-40, Bogota 111711, ColombiaMagnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) have attracted basic and applied research due to their immense potential to enable applications in fields as varied as drug delivery and bioremediation. Conventional synthesis schemes led to wide particle size distributions and inhomogeneous morphologies and crystalline structures. This has been attributed to the inability to control nucleation and growth processes under the conventional conditions of bulk batch processes. Here, we attempted to address these issues by scaling down the synthesis process aided by microfluidic devices, as they provide highly controlled and stable mixing patterns. Accordingly, we proposed three micromixers with different channel configurations, namely, serpentine, triangular, and a 3D arrangement with abrupt changes in fluid direction. The micromixers were first studied in silico, aided by Comsol Multiphysics<sup>®</sup> to investigate the obtained mixing patterns, and consequently, their potential for controlled growth and the nucleation processes required to form MNPs of uniform size and crystalline structure. The devices were then manufactured using a low-cost approach based on polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and laser cutting. Testing the micromixers in the synthesis of MNPs revealed homogeneous morphologies and particle size distributions, and the typical crystalline structure reported previously. A life cycle assessment (LCA) analysis for the devices was conducted in comparison with conventional batch co-precipitation synthesis to investigate the potential impacts on water and energy consumption. The obtained results revealed that such consumptions are higher than those of the conventional process. However, they can be reduced by conducting the synthesis with reused micromixers, as new PMMA is not needed for their assembly prior to operation. We are certain that the proposed approach represents an advantageous alternative to co-precipitation synthesis schemes, in terms of continuous production and more homogeneous physicochemical parameters of interest such as size, morphologies, and crystalline structure. Future work should be directed towards improving the sustainability indicators of the micromixers’ manufacturing process.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/13/6/970microfluidic systemsiron oxidemagnetic nanoparticleslife cycle assessment |
| spellingShingle | Sergio Leonardo Florez Ana Lucia Campaña M. Juliana Noguera Valentina Quezada Olga P. Fuentes Juan C. Cruz Johann F. Osma CFD Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment of Continuous Synthesis of Magnetite Nanoparticles Using 2D and 3D Micromixers Micromachines microfluidic systems iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles life cycle assessment |
| title | CFD Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment of Continuous Synthesis of Magnetite Nanoparticles Using 2D and 3D Micromixers |
| title_full | CFD Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment of Continuous Synthesis of Magnetite Nanoparticles Using 2D and 3D Micromixers |
| title_fullStr | CFD Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment of Continuous Synthesis of Magnetite Nanoparticles Using 2D and 3D Micromixers |
| title_full_unstemmed | CFD Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment of Continuous Synthesis of Magnetite Nanoparticles Using 2D and 3D Micromixers |
| title_short | CFD Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment of Continuous Synthesis of Magnetite Nanoparticles Using 2D and 3D Micromixers |
| title_sort | cfd analysis and life cycle assessment of continuous synthesis of magnetite nanoparticles using 2d and 3d micromixers |
| topic | microfluidic systems iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles life cycle assessment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/13/6/970 |
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