At Informex 2017, opposite the Corning booth highlighting microreactor technology was an intriguing startup company Zaiput and its founder Andrea Adamo (shown in the picture).
The unit shown in the picture is a phase separation pilot unit that can separate up to about 200 mL/min of two liquid phases. It is fun to watch it in action.
The key of this phase separator is an organophilic PTFE membrane that allows organophilic liquids to pass through while rejecting polar aqueous phase. The cost of the membrane is low enough that it can be replaced when it fouls or otherwise experiences low efficiency.
One can envision the use of such a phase separator for phase-transfer catalyst recovery and recycle in a single step or in multiple countercurrent extractions
One can also envision the combination of PTC with microreactors and this phase separation unit for performing multiple consecutive PTC reactions using a single organic phase with an organophilic phase-transfer catalyst and multiple aqueous phases containing various nucleophiles. In other words, one could perform a rapid efficient PTC cyanide/chloride exchange of a benzyl chloride derivative in a microreactor, separate the phases with this phase separator, feed the organic phase containing the benzyl cyanide derivative and phase-transfer catalyst into a second microreactor that would perform a PTC C-alkylation of the intermediate followed by a second phase separation, feed the organic phase containing C-alkylated benzyl cyanide derivative and phase-transfer catalyst into a third microreactor where a PTC hydrolysis would be performed to produce a C-alkylating phenylacetate, which would be separated by a third phase separator.
After the final step, the C-alkylated phenylacetate would be located in the aqueous phase and the organic phase containing the phase-transfer catalyst could be recycled back into the first cyanide/chloride exchange reactor.
As we noted in this month’s PTC Tip of the Month, PTC and microreactors are a solution in search of a problem. When combined with the Zaiput phase separator, there is a great business opportunity for a chemical manufacturer or startup.
Please contact Marc Halpern of PTC Organics If you are aware of a chemical challenge, especially one that requires high selectivity or high productivity or short heat history and/or multiple consecutive PTC reactions that involve strong base reactions, nucleophilic substitutions, oxidations and/or reductions. We will be happy to sign a CDA and explore development and commercialization.
