Intensification of Solid-state Separation of Enantiomers via Thermal Cycles

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Category
Ph D Defense
Date
2020-06-03 13:30
Venue
ONLINE verdediging

Promovendus/a: Fabio Cameli

Promotor(en): Prof. dr. Georgios Stefanidis

Life on Earth exists in a single-handed form. The biological activity of living organisms depends on the differentiation among pairs of enantiomers (non-superimposable mirror image molecules). Therefore, all natural amino acids display the same handedness as well as sugars and DNA helices.

For this reason, the human body interacts differently with each enantiomer of the same pair leading to possibly dramatic effects in the case of pharmaceutical substances. Therefore, the market of single enantiomers is soaring for applications in pharmaceutical, fine chemicals, food and agrochemical sectors.

Crystallization processes currently represent the most cost-effective and robust route for separating enantiomers. Among the several possible methods, the most promising solid-state separation technique involves cycles of temperature applied to a mixture of enantiomeric crystals in contact with a solvent. The periodic thermal oscillations perturb the physical and chemical equilibria of the system until achieving full separation and conversion of the enantiomers into the desired product. Whilst this method shows great potential, long process times and low productivity still hinder its industrial implementation.

In this project, intensification of the temperature cycling process was attained by means of alternative energy forms such as microwaves and continuous flow application.

More precisely, the application of rapid temperature cycles performed with a microwave system results in shorter process times and solid recovery that together lead to enhanced productivity.

Moreover, the newly designed cycle profiles trigger physical mechanisms that appear to drive the process so to intensify the effectiveness of the cyclic process.

Finally, a continuous flow rector in which thermal sweeps are obtained in a spatial dimension can tackle scale-up limitations of the process delivering productivity values suitable for industrial demand.
 
 

All Dates

  • 2020-06-03 13:30

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