title: Micro-total envelope system with silicon nanowire separator for safe carcinogenic chemistry.
abstract: Exploration and expansion of the chemistries involving toxic or carcinogenic reagents are severely limited by the health hazards their presence poses. Here, we present a micro-total envelope system (μ-TES) and an automated total process for the generation of the carcinogenic reagent, its purification and its utilization for a desired synthesis that is totally enveloped from being exposed to the carcinogen. A unique microseparator is developed on the basis of SiNWs structure to replace the usual exposure-prone distillation in separating the generated reagent. Chloromethyl methyl ether chemistry is explored as a carcinogenic model in demonstrating the efficiency of the μ-TES that is fully automated so that feeding the ingredients for the generation is all it takes to produce the desired product. Syntheses taking days can be accomplished safely in minutes with excellent yields, which bodes well for elevating the carcinogenic chemistry to new unexplored dimensions.
authors.affiliation: National Center of Applied Microfluidic Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering, POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology), Pohang 37673, Korea.
authors.forename: Ajay K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: National Center of Applied Microfluidic Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering, POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology), Pohang 37673, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Hyeon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: National Center of Applied Microfluidic Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering, POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology), Pohang 37673, Korea.
authors.forename: Niraj K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Vishwakarma
authors.affiliation: National Center of Applied Microfluidic Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering, POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology), Pohang 37673, Korea.
authors.forename: Seungwook
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: National Center of Applied Microfluidic Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering, POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology), Pohang 37673, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoung-Ik
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: National Center of Applied Microfluidic Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering, POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology), Pohang 37673, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Pyo
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D057205:Automation, Laboratory; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D062067:Chemical Safety; D060326:Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D053770:Nanowires; D012825:Silicon
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D008738:Methyl Ethers; C073317:chloromethyl methyl ether; D012825:Silicon