Molecular rotors for in situ local viscosity mapping in microfluidic chips

In numerous industrial processes involving fluids, viscosity is a determinant factor for reaction rates, flows, drying, mixing, etc. Its importance is even more determinant for phenomena observed are at the micro- and nano- scales as in nanopores or in micro and nanochannels for instance. However, despite notable progresses of the techniques used in microrheology in recent years, the quantification, mapping and study of viscosity at small scales remains challenging. Fluorescent molecular rotors are molecules whose fluorescence properties are sensitive to local viscosity: they thus allow to obtain viscosity maps by using fluorescence microscopes. While they are well-known as contrast agents in bioimaging, their use for quantitative measurements remains scarce. This paper is devoted to the use of such molecules to perform quantitative, \textit{in situ} and local measurements of viscosity in heterogeneous microfluidic flows. The technique is first validated in the well-controlled situation of a microfluidic co-flow, where two streams mix through transverse diffusion. Then, a more complex situation of mixing in passive micromixers is considered and mixing efficiency is characterized and quantified. The methodology developed in this study thus opens a new path for flow characterization in confined, heterogeneous and complex systems.he methodology developed in this study thus opens a new path for flow characterization in confined, heterogeneous micro- and nano- systems

Compressed carbon dioxide as a medium in catalytic hydrogenations: Engineering and chemistry

International audienceIn the frame of designing eco-friendly chemical processes, solvents represent a crucial economic and environmental concern. Compressed carbon dioxide (CO2) is an alternative green solvent for many industrial applications. Herein, we present the most relevant aspects of using compressed CO2 in metal-catalyzed hydrogenation reactions. In the first part, we discuss engineering fundamentals for the description of processes in supercritical fluids, gas-expanded liquids, continuous-flow applications and process design, including safety aspects and examples of heterogeneous catalysis. In the second part, we focus on catalytic systems based on both metal complexes and nano-systems, emphasizing how the catalysts have been adapted to the specificity of CO2. For this purpose, significant aspects such as the catalyst design, the reaction conditions and the use of co-solvents are considered. The main goal of this review is to show the advantages of using this green solvent in catalytic hydrogenations, including a critical analysis concerning its limitations