On-site-on-demand – production of hazardous chemicals by continuous flow processes
PETER POECHLAUER1,2*, SASCHA BRAUNE1, BERT DIELEMANS2, BERNARD KAPTEIN2, ROLAND OBERMÜLLER1, MEHUL THATHAGAR2
*Corresponding author
1. DSM Pharmaceutical Chemicals, St.-Peterstr. 25, Linz, A-4021, Austria
2. DSM Innovative Synthesis B.V., Urmonderbaan 22, Geleen, 6167 RD, The Netherlands
Abstract
The fine chemicals and pharmaceutical industry is taking numerous measures to improve on the sustainability of their manufacturing processes and safeguard compliance and quality of their products. One way to do so is taking better control of the origin of sensitive but quality critical starting materials by producing them on-site-on-demand. This replaces the transport, storage and handling of versatile but hazardous starting materials by their on-site-on-demand production and use in a subsequent reaction. An increasing number of starting materials is thus produced by continuous processes in small-structured reactors and used immediately after generation.
TRANSPORT OF CHEMICALS
Transport of chemicals is a highly regulated sector of the transport industry. The potential environmental impact and safety consequences of mistakes or accidents have led to high quality and safety requirements of transport operations. Cefic, the European Chemical Industry Council, has developed the Safety and Quality Assessment Systems (SQAS) for logistics operations (1) to promote and implement best practices for the safe transport of chemicals and improve the environmental performance of logistics operations by minimizing emissions during loading, unloading, cleaning and transport.
Legislation imposes an increasing burden on transport and storage of chemicals. Investments have to be taken to maintain e.g. allowances of storing chemicals in places of prior storage. This affects make-or-buy decisions and also motivates the development of alternatives.
Temperature-and moisture-sensitive chemicals or the particle size distribution of powders tend to suffer from long-distance transport from low-cost countries to western manufacturers, which may lead to material arriving at the destination in insufficient quality. At ...
