Environmentally Conscious Manufacturing: Aqueous Surfactant Solutions as Replacements for Volatile Organic Solvents in Chemical Manufacture

减少工业中有害有机溶剂的使用是必要的，以尽量减少化学制造过程对环境的影响。在过去，污染控制主要是通过分离技术来实现的，这些技术旨在在废物流释放到环境之前将有害物质从废物流中去除。最近，重点已转向减少来源，作为最佳污染控制战略，其中使用无害材料代替有害成分。本研究的目的是评估表面活性剂水溶液在照相、制药、聚合物和石油化工等行业的合成过程中作为有机溶剂的替代品。表面活性剂胶束对多种反应的催化作用是众所周知的。尽管有丰富的基础知识，但主要是因为动力学数据本身不足以在现有工艺中成功地用表面活性剂水溶液取代有机溶剂。例如，通过乳化进行组分的预混和反应后产物的分离是另外两个必须解决的问题。为了使胶束催化在经济上可行，必须达到可接受的高生产率，必须达到所需产物的选择性，并且必须确定分离产物和表面活性剂的方法。高产量需要在水介质中最大限度地增溶亲脂反应物，以及制备和处理两相水连续乳剂。与单一表面活性剂体系相比，通常表现出协同增溶能力的表面活性剂混合物将被研究。研究了酚类、芳香胺类和氨基酚类烷基化反应的反应速率和产物收率。将开发和评估从反应后溶液中分离所需产物的方法，以及回收表面活性剂进行循环利用的方法。最后，将设计和构建一个实验规模的半批量工艺来证明所提出技术的可行性。该项目将与伊士曼柯达公司的化学品开发部门合作进行。合作的性质将包括与工业科学家和工程师密切合作，确定感兴趣的反应系统和实施新方法的可能途径，以最大限度地减少生产过程对环境的影响。首席研究员和学生研究人员将参观伊士曼柯达工厂，以熟悉当前的工业方法，并就项目的各个阶段咨询工业专家。在这个项目中进行的任何研究都不是专有的。通过从比以前更广泛的角度研究表面活性剂混合物中的胶束催化，所提出的研究将使工业以最小的努力和费用实施该技术。该项目的结果将提供必要的理解，以弥合当前反应动力学的基础知识与这一有前途的技术在工业过程中的实际应用之间的差距。

Abstract James F. Rathman Ohio State University CTS-9528627 Reduced utilization of hazardous organic solvents in industry is necessary to minimize the environmental impact of chemical manufacturing processes. In the past, pollution control was largely achieved by separation techniques designed to remove hazardous materials from waste streams prior to their release into the environment. Recently the emphasis has switched to source reduction as the optimum pollution control strategy, wherein non-hazardous materials are used in place of hazardous components. The goal of the proposed research is to evaluate aqueous surfactant solutions as replacements for organic solvents in synthesis processes of interest to the photographic, pharmaceutical, polymer, and petrochemical industries. The catalytic effect of surfactant micelles on a wide variety of reactions is well-known. Despite the wealth of fundamental knowledge, primarily because kinetic data alone are not sufficient for successfully replacing organic solvents with aqueous surfactant solutions in existing processes. For example, premixing of components via emulsification and separation of products after reaction are two additional areas that must be addressed. In order for micellar catalysis to be economically viable, acceptably high production rates must be achieved, selectivity of the desired product must be attained, and methods of separating products and surfactants must be identified. High production rates require maximizing solubilization of lipophilic reactants in aqueous media, as well as preparation and handling of two-phase water-continuous emulsions. Surfactant mixtures, which often exhibit synergistic solubilization capacities relative to single surfactant systems, will be investigated. Reaction rates and product yields will be investigated for alkylation reactions of phenols, aromatic amines, and amino phenols. Methods of separating the desired product from the post-reaction solution, and methods of recovering the su rfactant for recycle, will be developed and evaluated. Finally, a bench-scale semi-batch process will be designed and constructed to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed technology. This project will be performed in collaboration with the Chemicals Developed Division of the Eastman Kodak Company. The nature of he collaboration will include working closely with industrial scientists and engineers to define reaction systems of interest and possible avenues of implementing new methods that minimize the impact of production processes on the environment. The principal investigator and student researchers will visit Eastman Kodak facilities to become familiar with current industrial methods and to consult with industrial experts on various phases of the project. None of the research performed in this project will be proprietary. By studying micelar catalysis in surfactant mixtures from a broader perspective than has been done previously, the proposed research will enable industries to implement this technology with minimum effort and expense. Results of this project will provide the understanding necessary to bridge the gap between current fundamental knowledge of reaction kinetics and the actual application of this promising technology in industrial processes.