Skid-mounted flow equipment at the Dunkirk site to avoid the need for hazardous and / or polluting reagents by replacing them by electrons . The reactions are heterogeneous by design , taking place at the surface of the electrodes , so combining them with flow techniques is an obvious solution when it comes to scaling up a process . Minafin has two IKA ElectraSyn 2.0 electrochemical plates , a Vapourtec flow electrochemical reactor and an electrochemical flow system . Using these , also at PennAkem , a lab-scale batch process for anodic oxidation project was transferred to a flow system for pilot scale production to achieve high selectivity and productivity . Photochemistry , the use of light to generate highly reactive intermediates under mild conditions , is another powerful synthetic tool . New , tailored LED systems and catalysts now allow excellent control , opening up industrial reactions for such processes . Minafin itself has developed halogenation reactions and photoredox catalysis processes and sees opportunities in coupling photoredox devices with continuous flow technology .
Becoming core
All that said , none of these is yet a core capability . To take its next steps in that direction , Minafin has acquired three Vapourtec E-series lab-scale reactors . These can be used to screen reaction parameters , such as temperature , residence time , catalysts , and solvents , and to optimise operating conditions for continuous and batch modes . Having looked at a lot of different equipment , Minafin finally chose the Vapourtec system , says Jentzer , because of its ease of use and versatility . Although process engineers can help implement a technology , it is the chemist who will have to work with it at the bench , so this advantage was crucial . “ With Vapourtec , we will also have the opportunity to carry out electrochemistry and photochemistry ,” adds Brayer . “ This is a very versatile piece of equipment ; it is easy to define the critical parameters , such as temperature and residence time , which are very important in this area of technology .” The advantages of flow have been known for many years , yet it has been slow to take off . For Jentzer , who is a process engineer by training , the main reasons for this within Minafin are linked to the training of researchers . “ In the past , our research centre comprised only chemists . Now we have process engineers to help transfer the technology ,” he says . Another major general barrier to the deployment of flow chemistry is sheer inertia , Jentzer adds . Companies that are fully equipped to carry out batch cannot simply decide to stop and transfer to flow . Those starting from scratch would , he believes , start with flow but for those who are not , “ it is a long , long process ”. Brayer adds : “ We always have to demonstrate a reasonable payback for a new technology , comparing it to existing processes . We are currently assessing investments made in continuous liquid-liquid extraction at lab and pilot scale in comparison with our success in running batch processing .” The other key barrier , again specifically in pharmaceuticals , is regulatory . When a process has been approved by agencies like the US FDA and the EMA , any subsequent change requires a new registration . Thus , says Jentzer , for new products flow is an opportunity ; for older ones , it is not so easy . “ As it is important to demonstrate to clients that we have the expertise , we aim to set up at least pilot equipment in flow . The strategy is to invest now and to be ready when the molecules come ,” he says . “ The next step will be to invest in specific equipment to be ready to capture these projects .” •
Olivier Jentzer
R & D DIRECTOR
MINAKEM k + 33 3 20 64 68 30 J info @ minakem . com j www . minakem . com
19