Photochemical microfluidic synthesis of vitamin D3 by improved light sources with photoluminescent substrates

• Published in: Chinese journal of chemical engineering Vol. 29; no. 1; pp. 204 - 211
• Main Authors: Niu, Wenhao, Zheng, Yuanzhi, Li, Ying, Du, Le, Liu, Wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-01-2021; The State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering Beijing Key Laboratory of Membrane Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
• Subjects: Composites; Microfluidics; Photochemistry; UVB emission; Vitamin D3; Vitamin D3; Composites; UVB emission; Microfluidics; Photochemistry
• ISSN: 1004-9541; 2210-321X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cjche.2020.07.016

This study presents a novel technique for the controllable preparation of photoluminescent substrates to enhance the photochemical microfluidic synthesis of vitamin D3. The dip-coating method to prepare the substrates was experimentally optimized, and the corresponding emission behaviors were systematically investigated. The substrates were successfully used to enhance the ultraviolet B (UVB) emission of a low-power light source (e.g., an 8 W lamp), whose UVB emission intensity was increased by approximately 11 times. By virtue of the novel light source, the productivity of a single set of photochemical microreactor with a 12-meter-long channel (0.6 mm i.d.) was increased to 1.83 kg·a−1, which was 42% higher than that of a 100 W lamp, and no cooling devices were used. The method is simple and has great potential to replace traditional medium-pressure mercury lamps for UVB-irradiated photochemical reactions.
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