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Microreactor Technology: A Revolution for the Fine Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industries?
Author(s) -
Roberge D. M.,
Ducry L.,
Bieler N.,
Cretton P.,
Zimmermann B.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
chemical engineering and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-4125
pISSN - 0930-7516
DOI - 10.1002/ceat.200407128
Subject(s) - microreactor , yield (engineering) , scale up , pharmaceutical industry , scale (ratio) , process engineering , fine chemical , process (computing) , chemical industry , manufacturing engineering , engineering , nanotechnology , business , chemistry , computer science , materials science , environmental engineering , microbiology and biotechnology , catalysis , organic chemistry , metallurgy , physics , classical mechanics , quantum mechanics , biology , operating system
50 % of reactions in the fine chemical/pharmaceutical industry could benefit from a continuous process based mainly on microreactor technology. However, the frequent presence of a solid phase still hinders the widespread application of such a technology as a multi‐purpose solution. For small scale and pilot productions, speed in process R&D, as well as the avoidance of scale‐up issues, are the main drivers. On the other hand, for large scale productions, a gain in yield and safety are the main motivations for the use of micoreactor technology. The gain in yield must be significant in order to cope with the increase in capital expenditure associated with the development of a new technology.