Micro/ nanofluidics, a new aspect in chemical engineering

Abstract

Synergy of science and technology during the past decades, has discovered some new aspects and technologies. One of the very novel aspects is Microfluidics; the science and technology of controlling the motion of tiny volumes of fluids. It has been predicted that by development of this new field of science and technology, a revolution similar to what has happened by introduction of microchips to computer industry, will take place in chemical engineering. Microfluidics, its applications, challenges, and relation to chemical engineering, are investigated in this paper. Furthermore, a report about the researches and studies conducted in chemical engineering faculties on Microfluidics is presented. In developed countries, chemical engineering faculties have acknowledged the importance of Microfluidics, by establishing some laboratories and research centers, and in some cases, have held some courses in this field. In contrast, Iranian faculty members and researchers in chemical engineering departments are almost alien to Microfluidics. As an exception, the chemical engineering department at Iran University of Science and Technology is active in this field. This paper strongly recommends that Iranian chemical engineering researchers and faculty members make a time to do research on Microfluidics or at least, hold some courses in this field in order to prevent the scientific and technological gap among Iranian societies and developed countries from proliferating.

Keywords

• chemical engineering education micro/ nano-fluidics nanotechnology surface phenomena micro electromechanical systems