Development of continuous multiphase microreactors for the production of fine chemicals

许多精细化学品和药品是通过溶剂密集型批量或半批量工艺生产的，这增加了成本和对环境的影响。相比之下，连续流微反应器提供了大的表面体积比和反应物之间的密切接触，这导致了非常高的传热传质速率，允许在更恶劣的操作条件下改善反应控制和选择性。这一点和它们的小体积可以更安全地处理危险反应和不稳定的中间体。因此，该研究项目的总体目标是开发足够灵活的连续流微反应器技术，使其在从药物临床试验一期（10-50 ml/min）到III期（400-600 ml/min）的各种单相和多相反应的生产规模上优于批/半批反应器。重点主要集中在合成高度放热和/或受相间传质限制的分子上，因为这些操作条件更难优化。

Many fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals are produced by solvent-intensive batch or semi-batch processes increasing costs and environmental impact. In comparison, continuous-flow microreactors offer a large surface-to-volume ratio and intimate contact between reactants, which leads to very high heat and mass transfer rates, permitting improved reaction control and selectivity at more severe operating conditions. This and their small volume enable safer handling of hazardous reactions and unstable intermediates. The overall goal of this research program is thus to develop continuous-flow microreactor technology sufficiently flexible that it can outperform batch/semi-batch reactors for a variety of single and multiphase reactions over production scales ranging from pharmaceutical clinical trial phases I (10-50 ml/min) to III (400-600 ml/min). Focus is primarily on molecules where synthesis is highly exothermic and/or limited by interphase mass transfer since these operating conditions are more difficult to optimize.