Over the past decade, we have written several times about the potential to achieve outstanding processes by combining the strengths of liquid-liquid PTC systems for high reactivity in continuous processes with the strengths of microreactors to conduct fast reactions with excellent heat transfer and low heat history in continuous processes.
Corning is a leader in the production of microreactors made of glass or silicon carbide that can endure reaction conditions up to 18 bar and 200 C.
At Informex 2017, we were able to take these pictures of microreactors. The large unit shown contains an array of microreactors with a production capacity of up to about 2,000 tons of product per year.
At PTC Organics, we have always known that phase-transfer catalysis is a solution looking for a problem. Similarly, Corning knows that microreactor technology is a solution looking for a problem.
We believe that there is great opportunity to make a lot of money, even for a small company or startup, by LEVERAGING THE COMBINATION OF:
[1] the greatly reduced CHEMICAL energy of activation of phase-transfer catalysis in liquid-liquid PTC systems in 30 broad reaction categories with
[2] the greatly enhanced heat transfer, controlled agitation and other PHYSICAL characteristics provided by microreactors.
The potential to make money is limited only by the creativity of our readers to identify “problems” in search of the solution that is the combination of PTC with microreactors. This challenge requires knowledge of chemical market opportunities, highly specialized PTC expertise and engineering expertise in microreactors.
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 is a strong base reaction, nucleophilic substitution, oxidation or reduction. We will be happy to sign a CDA and explore development and commercialization.
Closeup picture of several microreactors:
