BASF, the largest chemical producer in the world, has teamed up with Imperial College London (ICL) to develop an innovative approach to chemical production call flow chemistry.
According to a press release from ICL, the new technique has the potential to allow the chemical manufacturing industry to produce chemicals with far greater efficiency than current methods.
In traditional chemical manufacturing, base ingredients, reagents, are placed into vessels known as batch reactors. The process needed to complete the reaction needs time before the product can be extracted, and the entire process can be very slow, allowing for the extra time required to unload and clean the reactor between batches.
Productivity is limited by the physical volume of the reactor, the time required for the reaction, and how efficient the mixing process is.
In flow chemistry, the chemicals are continuously produced by pumping reagents through the reactor. This process is easier to control and produces more consistent results.
“The transition from batch to flow chemistry is similar to the transition from piece-by-piece manufacturing to industrial production on a conveyor belt,” said Professor Mimi Hii in Imperial’s Department of Chemistry. “Flow chemistry will produce higher-quality products at scale.”
Dr Darren Budd, Commercial Director (UK and Ireland) at BASF, said: “We want to make flow chemistry a success for BASF and the global chemical industry. It is pleasing to see these advanced processes developed and pioneered in the UK, strengthening the country’s position as a global leader in chemical manufacturing.
“By combing our sectoral insights with the academic expertise and resources of Imperial College London, we aim to push the technology forward and upskill the workforce in the chemicals sector.”
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