SCALE-UP OF CHEMICAL PROCESS USING DATA RICH EXPERIMENTS

Many complex and multi-stage API syntheses involve transformations for which batch processing has significant limitations in terms of safety, quality, yield and/or feasibility. Even at moderate manufacturing scales, which are typical for the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries, the continuous processing benefits become more obvious for pharmaceutical companies, API manufacturers and regulatory authorities. This webinar will examine the benefits and advantages of using continuous processing for the manufacturing of fine chemicals and APIs, illustrated by industrial case studies. Presentation 1: "Flow Chemistry - Concepts and Tools" by Dr. Patrick Löb Continuous processing is playing an increasing role in the development and manufacturing of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). This presentation specifically outlines concepts and tools of flow chemistry based on milli- and microstructure reactors. Benefit topics - improved process controls, the accessibility of novel process windows, straightforward scale-up, and operational advantages - are discussed and illustrated by selected application examples. Challenges such as the handling of solids are addressed.

Some of the common suit materials will be introduced from a practical perspective for those exposed to the multiple threats of arc flash, flash fire and chemical contamination exposure. Participants will also consider the standards addressing these issues.

A novel method for recycling PLA using low-temperature, low-pressure reactions with alcohol or water has recently been developed. PLA is used today in many applications ranging from food packaging to implantable medical devices. Because of its sensitivity to thermal degradation, PLA is difficult to recycle and actually becomes a contaminant in the plastics stream of municipal solid waste. Using the newly discovered process, different grades of PLA can be removed from a stream of commingled plastics and broken down to give high value chemicals. Some of these chemicals, called monomers, can be purified and used as feedstock to synthesize virgin PLA resin, thereby “closing the loop” on the PLA life cycle. This result is achieved by carrying out depolymerization reactions while the PLA is in solution.

In recent years, we have seen a reawakened interest in hydrogen fuel cell and water electrolyzer technology, with an important economical driver being the continuously lowered costs for intermittent renewal electricity generation from wind and solar.