Over the past years micro-structured flow reactors have found increasing application in chemical laboratories and plants. Both academic and industrial research has impressively demonstrated that the application of micro-structured flow reactors offers numerous technical advantages for chemical processes, ranging from process safety to process efficiency. Here, we report on the benefits of applying flow chemistry for the synthesis of energetic materials, in particular fuels and oxidizers being used in space rocket propellants and satellite navigation systems. Based on this experience we discuss future applications of flow chemistry processes on space missions ranging from on-demand fuel or propellant synthesis to the production of valuable chemicals either from waste streams being generated on space vehicles and platforms or from exploitable natural resources on other planets. Of course, whenever discussing chemical synthesis in space, one has to consider carefully the challenging environmental conditions that chemical processes are exposed to. For example, the effects of fluid flow, heat and mass transfer on chemical and biochemical conversions as well as materials processing will be different in microgravity. It will thus be of utmost importance to understand such transport phenomena (including multi-phase flows, interfacial phenomena, combustion, and particle/crystal growth) to design appropriate processes which – in a best-case scenario – take advantage of these particular environmental conditions. For example, potential benefits of a microgravity environment in a chemical process could be the reduction of phase separations and particle settlings or the prevention of buoyancy effects. Further significant impacts on chemical processes in space are caused by temperature and ionising radiation. The temperature of objects in space can vary massively from very high to very low values. As reaction kinetics are closely linked to temperature, accurate heating and cooling of chemical reactions may be of significant importance in space – an issue where micro-structured flow reactors could help much. Moreover, there are other sources of energy that can power chemical reactions in space. High energy cosmic rays, ultraviolet light, and background microwave radiation can give chemicals enough energy to react, in particular when micro-structured flow reactors provide an enhanced penetration depth under precisely controlled residence times.

Advanced synthesis in micro-structured flow reactors: From rocket propellants to future space explorations

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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