Microreactor

Abstract

Chemical and biological reactors, including microreactors, are provided. Exemplary reactors include a plurality of reactors operable in parallel, where each reactor has a small volume and, together, the reactors produce a large volume of product. Reaction systems can include mixing chambers, heating/dispersion units, reaction chambers, and separation units. Components of the reactors can be readily formed from a variety of materials. For example, they can be etched from silicon. Components are connectable to and separable from each other to form a variety of types of reactors, and the reactors can be attachable to and separable from each other to add significant flexibility in parallel and/or series reactor operation.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A chemical or biochemical reactor comprising: 
 a reaction unit including a chamber having a volume of less than 1 ml, an inlet to the chamber connectable to a source of a chemical or biological starting material, and an outlet of the chamber for release of a product of a chemical or biological reaction involving the starting material; and    a collection chamber connectable to the outlet of the reaction chamber, the collection chamber having a volume of greater than 1 liter.