System and method for determining optimal reaction parameters using continuously running process

US7101515B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Cellular Process Chemistry, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Thomas Schwalbe · Bad Vilbel, DE
• Volker Autze · Frankfurt am Main, DE
• Sebastian Oberbeck · Greifenstein, DE
• Ansgar Kursawe · Niedernhausen, DE
• Kemal Sahin · Pittsburgh, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 14, 2004
• Grant date: Sep 5, 2006
• Expiry date: Apr 14, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T436/12
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A reaction system enables a plurality of optimization experiments for a reaction to be performed continuously, to enable optimal reaction parameters to be determined. Dilution pumps are included to automatically vary the solvent mixed with reactants so a concentration of each reactant can be selectively varied. The reactants are introduced into a reaction module selectively coupled to residence time chambers or directly to an analytical unit. The analytical unit determines the yield and/or quality for each optimization experiment, enabling optimal parameters to be determined. Residence time chambers can be employed sequentially to enable total residence time to be varied. The controller performs as many experiments as required to enable each parameter to be varied according to a predefined testing program and can redefine a testing program based on the results from previous experiments. At least two reaction parameters can be varied according to periodic functions to further enhance analytical efficiency.