@article { , title = {Ionic liquid droplet micro-reactor for catalysis reactions not at equilibrium}, abstract = {We develop a novel strategy to more effectively and controllably process continuous enzymatic or homogeneous catalysis reactions based on non-aqueous Pickering emulsions. A key element of this strategy is “bottom-up” construction of a macroscale continuous flow reaction system through packing catalyst-containing micron-sized ionic liquid (IL) droplets in oil in a column reactor. Due to the continuous influx of reactants into the droplets and the continuous release of products from the droplets, catalysis reactions in such a system can take place without limitations arising from establishment of the reaction equilibrium and catalyst separation, inherent in conventional batch reactions. As proof of the concept, enzymatic enantioselective trans-esterification and CuI-catalyzed cycloaddition reactions using this IL droplet-based flow system both exhibit eight to twenty-fold enhancement in catalysis efficiency compared to their batch counterparts, and a durability of at least 4000 h for the enantioselective trans-esterification of 1-phenylethyl alcohol, otherwise unattainable in their batch counterparts. We further establish a theoretical model for such a catalysis system working under non-equilibrium conditions, which not only supports the experimental results but also helps to predict reaction progress at a microscale level. Being operationally simple, efficient and adaptive, this strategy provides an unprecedented platform for practical applications of enzymes and homogeneous catalysts even at a controllable level.}, doi = {10.1021/jacs.7b07731}, eissn = {1520-5126}, issn = {0002-7863}, issue = {48}, journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, pages = {17387-17396}, publicationstatus = {Published}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, url = {https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/456488}, volume = {139}, keyword = {Specialist Research - Other, Catalysis reactions}, year = {2017}, author = {Zhang, Ming and Ettelaie, Rammile and Yan, Tao and Zhang, Suojiang and Cheng, Fangqin and Binks, Bernard P. and Yang, Hengquan} }