Continuous Separation of Solids, Liquids and Gases Using Membranes

该项目将在新的实验室规模设备中评估现有不同类型的膜（聚合物，陶瓷，选择性等），以实现反应组分的连续分离。重要的是，所使用的方法将是可扩展的，实验室数据将用于支持这一点。总体目标是探索和理解多相连续流工作的选择和设计，并将其与连续反应相结合，特别是支持新的自动优化方法。目标是开发方法：(i)从浆料中（半）连续分离固体，以允许分析和实现过程自动优化，（ii）交换反应溶剂，以方便后续处理或反应伸缩。对于所需固体的分离，这可能涉及在线过滤器和切换系统，以重新溶解和分析例如纯度和浓度（数量），微离心或浮选系统。溶剂转换可以通过高表面积体积比的方法来实现，如微泡强化蒸馏或薄膜汽化结合气体选择膜来回收再循环并避免挥发性有机化合物。该项目解决了分离和自动化的重要制造问题，旨在提高制药生产效率，最大限度地减少浪费，以提高可持续性。该研究涉及未来制造业和数字经济主题，并支持负责任的创新。

This project will evaluate existing membranes of different types (polymeric, ceramic, selective etc) within new lab-scale devices to realise the continuous separation of reaction components. Importantly, the methods used will be scalable and the lab-data will be used to support this. The overall aim is to explore and understand options and designs for multi-phase continuous flow work-up and to integrate these with continuous reactions, specifically to support new auto-optimisation methodology. The objectives are to develop methodology for: (i) the (semi-)continuous separation of solids from slurries to allow analysis and enable process auto-optimisation, (ii) the swapping of reaction solvent for another to facilitate work-up or reaction telescoping. For the separation of desired solids this could involve in-line filters and switching systems to redissolve and analyse for example purity and concentration (quantity), micro-centrifugal or flotation systems. Solvent switching might be achieved by high surface-area to volume methods such as microbubble enhanced distillation or thin film vaporisation combined with gas selective membranes to recover-recycle and avoid VOCs. The project addresses important manufacturing issues of separations and automation aiming to improve pharma production efficiency and minimise waste to improve sustainability. The research addresses the Manufacturing the Future and Digital Economy Themes and supports Responsible Innovation.