Decision support towards agile eco-design of microreaction processes by accompanying (simplified) life cycle assessment

Abstract

Continuously running syntheses in microstructured reactors offers novel ways to intensify conventional chemical processes. An outstanding advantage of microreaction technology is the high surface-to-volume-ratio which enables intensive mixing phenomena as well as high mass and heat transfer rates. Thus, microstructured reactors may be a suitable means to improve multiphase reactions by increasing the interfacial area and the intensification of internal mixing. This improvement in reaction performances may lead to reduced environmental burdens of the process under consideration. The method of simplified life cycle assessment (SLCA) is a suitable tool to evaluate the environmental burdens caused by chemical processes. It has been applied already in research and development to identify the key parameters for a deliberate green process design of two biphasic reactions, the esterification of phenol and benzoyl chloride resulting in phenyl benzoate and the synthesis of one of the corresponding phase transfer catalysts, [BMIM]Cl. Further, SLCA is complemented by a simple cost estimation to investigate the main cost drivers relevant for possible industrial application of the syntheses investigated.

Rules and benefits of Life Cycle Assessment in green chemical process and synthesis design: a tutorial review

“…Scheme 4 Phase transfer catalysis (PTC) of benzoyl chloride and phenol evaluated by a Simplified LCA 103. …”

4. Technology overview/Overview of the devices

“…For further information about the different fields of application please also see the following literature: [28,[60][61][62]; or visit the company's homepage: www.invenios. com.…”

Environmentally optimized microreactor design through Life Cycle Assessment

“…The application of LCA for interdependent device and process development in general and in microreaction engineering in particular has not thoroughly been discussed yet. So far, only few publications exist regarding LCA in microreaction engineering [6][7][8][9]. The case studies utilize existing so-called microstructured reactors, whereas the development of the microreactor is not considered.…”