OPTIMUM (Oxidative Flow Platform Utilising Porous liquids, 3D printing and Microbubble Technology at Almac)

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OPTIMUM is an innovative and novel project, centred on the development of a female Future Leader in the industrial chemical sector, but which will also deliver a successful continuous oxidation platform utilising molecular oxygen. Molecular oxygen is a cheap, abundant, atom efficient reagent but is currently under utilised within the chemical manufacturing industry. Economy of scale allows bulk chemical processes to be performed in a highly integrated manner, with attendant operational efficiencies and synergies. For CDMOs like ASL operating within the pharmaceutical/fine chemical industry this is simply not feasible, due to the lower delivery targets/more complex molecules required, and as such flow processes (like their batch counterparts) need to be developed within multi-purpose reactors. Aerobic oxidations fall into a unique category of reactions which are difficult to perform in batch, due to the considerable headspace within reactors and the associated risk of explosion.There are five strategic drivers towards choosing flow chemistry over traditional batch as outlined in points A to E:A. Faster reactions: typically under continuous flow reactions are faster due to improved mixing, better heat transfer as a result of the smaller-scale architectures offering higher surface area to volume when compared with traditional batch vessels. Reaction rate is increased also by the ability to access temperatures and pressures inaccessible in batch and there is the potential for automated reaction screening.B. Safer reactions: continuous flow is inherently safer due to the small volumes reacting at any one time with reactive intermediates/hazardous reagents handled in situ thus minimising the risk significantly.C. Challenging reactions: reactions which are difficult to scale up in batch, such as high pressure, high energy, oxidation or photochemical can be performed under continuous flow.D. Product quality: tight controls of stoichiometry improves product quality, as product is pumped away from reagents resulting in fewer impurities formed as by-products. In-line monitoring can identify a change in product quality and allow for diversion to waste eliminating failed batches. The ability to perform a controlled quench means simple work-up with typically a reduced number of handling steps required.E. Smaller footprint: equipment is much smaller than typical batch vessels with the ability to tailor the flow rig to suit the process and higher unit productivity.The public may well be surprised at the unsophisticated methods that are employed for chemical and pharmaceutical production and the large amounts of environmentally harmful waste generated in the production of medicines and fine chemicals that we all rely on. The UK chemical industry faces serious competition from low cost economies and real difficulties in bringing new products to the market. To survive as a significant part of the UK economy, and continue providing healthcare solutions, the industry seeks to remain competitive through using cutting-edge technologies and more efficient operating practices, all with a backdrop of ensuring sustainability in its practices. Although continuous flow has gained increasing attention in recent years, the current-state-of-the-art for industrial chemical production is still simple batch processes. OPTIMUM aims to further train/develop the identified Fellow (along with their associated project team) and carry out research in areas which will help change the current state-of-the-art production processes developing continuous flow equipment trains for the production of fine chemicals.