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Challenges in Chemical Processes
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Challenges in Chemical Processes

A special issue of Challenges (ISSN 2078-1547).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2016) | Viewed by 58375

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Volker Hessel

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
Interests: micro process technology; flow chemistry; process intensification; green processing; sustainability (life cycle assessment, cost analysis)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Timothy Noël

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Micro Flow Chemistry & Process Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, Helix, STW 2.49, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Interests: continuous manufacturing; photochemistry; micro process technology; homogeneous catalysis; organic synthesis; reaction design

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the last few decades, tremendous efforts have been devoted towards the development and design of new chemical processes. These processes are required to be more selective and energy efficient in order to reduce production costs, as well as reducing its impact on the environment. Research towards this goal is still gaining momentum and there are still many challenges ahead of the scientific community. In this special issue, published in Challenges, we create a forum to publish research with respect to “Challenges in Chemical Processes”. We envision manuscripts both with chemical and engineering focus, i.e. highlighting recent, cutting-edge developments on chemical reactions, their processing and their reactors/plants. In particular, this includes challenges in employing alternative energies in chemical processes, hydrogen production for fuel cells, developing novel pathways for organic synthesis and in particular for biofuels/biomass, devising new and improved reactor designs, improving synthetic methodologies by means of microreactor technology, flow chemistry, process intensification, photochemistry, green chemistry, green processing, catalysis or biocatalysis, and developing and using tunable and green solvents (e.g. ionic liquids, fluorous solvents, etc.) for the chemical industry. We will consider any submissions associated with novel and advanced Chemical Processes.

Prof. Dr. Volker Hessel
Dr. Timothy Noël
Guest Editors

Keywords

  • alternative energy
  • hydrogen production
  • photochemistry
  • reactor design
  • biofuels/biomass
  • microreactor technology
  • green chemistry
  • green processing
  • tunable solvents
  • sustainability
  • process intensification
  • novel synthetic pathways

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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997 KiB  
Article
5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) Production from Hexoses: Limits of Heterogeneous Catalysis in Hydrothermal Conditions and Potential of Concentrated Aqueous Organic Acids as Reactive Solvent System
by Rodrigo Lopes De Souza, Hao Yu, Franck Rataboul and Nadine Essayem
Challenges 2012, 3(2), 212-232; https://doi.org/10.3390/challe3020212 - 13 Sep 2012
Cited by 100 | Viewed by 16433
Abstract
5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) is an important bio-sourced intermediate, formed from carbohydrates such as glucose or fructose. The treatment at 150–250 °C of glucose or fructose in pure water and batch conditions, with catalytic amounts of most of the usual acid-basic solid catalysts, gave limited [...] Read more.
5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) is an important bio-sourced intermediate, formed from carbohydrates such as glucose or fructose. The treatment at 150–250 °C of glucose or fructose in pure water and batch conditions, with catalytic amounts of most of the usual acid-basic solid catalysts, gave limited yields in 5-HMF, due mainly to the fast formation of soluble oligomers. Niobic acid, which possesses both Lewis and Brønsted acid sites, gave the highest 5-HMF yield, 28%, when high catalyst/glucose ratio is used. By contrast, we disclose in this work that the reaction of fructose in concentrated aqueous solutions of carboxylic acids, formic, acetic or lactic acids, used as reactive solvent media, leads to the selective dehydration of fructose in 5-HMF with yields up to 64% after 2 hours at 150 °C. This shows the potential of such solvent systems for the clean and easy production of 5-HMF from carbohydrates. The influence of adding solid catalysts to the carboxylic acid media was also reported, starting from glucose. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges in Chemical Processes)
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Review

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3212 KiB  
Review
Particle Handling Techniques in Microchemical Processes
by Brian S. Flowers and Ryan L. Hartman
Challenges 2012, 3(2), 194-211; https://doi.org/10.3390/challe3020194 - 22 Aug 2012
Cited by 30 | Viewed by 8437
Abstract
The manipulation of particulates in microfluidics is a challenge that continues to impact applications ranging from fine chemicals manufacturing to the materials and the life sciences. Heterogeneous operations carried out in microreactors involve high surface-to-volume characteristics that minimize the heat and mass transport [...] Read more.
The manipulation of particulates in microfluidics is a challenge that continues to impact applications ranging from fine chemicals manufacturing to the materials and the life sciences. Heterogeneous operations carried out in microreactors involve high surface-to-volume characteristics that minimize the heat and mass transport resistances, offering precise control of the reaction conditions. Considerable advances have been made towards the engineering of techniques that control particles in microscale laminar flow, yet there remain tremendous opportunities for improvements in the area of chemical processing. Strategies that have been developed to successfully advance systems involving heterogeneous materials are reviewed and an outlook provided in the context of the challenges of continuous flow fine chemical processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges in Chemical Processes)
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678 KiB  
Review
Continuous-Flow Processes in Heterogeneously Catalyzed Transformations of Biomass Derivatives into Fuels and Chemicals
by Juan Carlos Serrano-Ruiz, Rafael Luque, Juan Manual Campelo and Antonio A. Romero
Challenges 2012, 3(2), 114-132; https://doi.org/10.3390/challe3020114 - 12 Jul 2012
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 12615
Abstract
Continuous flow chemical processes offer several advantages as compared to batch chemistries. These are particularly relevant in the case of heterogeneously catalyzed transformations of biomass-derived platform molecules into valuable chemicals and fuels. This work is aimed to provide an overview of key continuous [...] Read more.
Continuous flow chemical processes offer several advantages as compared to batch chemistries. These are particularly relevant in the case of heterogeneously catalyzed transformations of biomass-derived platform molecules into valuable chemicals and fuels. This work is aimed to provide an overview of key continuous flow processes developed to date dealing with a series of transformations of platform chemicals including alcohols, furanics, organic acids and polyols using a wide range of heterogeneous catalysts based on supported metals, solid acids and bifunctional (metal + acidic) materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges in Chemical Processes)
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995 KiB  
Review
Improving Product Quality with Entrapped Stable Emulsions: From Theory to Industrial Application
by Thomai Panagiotou and Robert Fisher
Challenges 2012, 3(2), 84-113; https://doi.org/10.3390/challe3020084 - 10 Jul 2012
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 10896
Abstract
Entrapment of sub-micron scale emulsions containing active ingredients into macro-scale matrices has exhibited great potential as a delivery vehicle with controlled release capabilities, however optimization remains unrealized. Reported here are methods used to improve product quality by optimizing the emulsion formation steps. These [...] Read more.
Entrapment of sub-micron scale emulsions containing active ingredients into macro-scale matrices has exhibited great potential as a delivery vehicle with controlled release capabilities, however optimization remains unrealized. Reported here are methods used to improve product quality by optimizing the emulsion formation steps. These methods are in conjunction with the precepts of Process Intensification (PI). Success with pharmaceutics and chemical reacting systems provides a strategy for a wide range of applications; the emphasis here being nutraceutics. Use of a nano-technology platform assists in: (a) product quality improvements through better nutrient dispersion, and thus bio-efficacy; and (b) production efficiencies through implementation of PI concepts. A continuous methodology, utilizing these PI concepts, that approximates a bottom-up approach to the creation of sub-micron and nano-emulsions is the basis of the technology presented here. Note that solid particles may result during post-processing. The metrics of successful processing include obtainment of nano-scale species with minimal input energy, reduced processing steps at higher throughput rates, and improved quality without over-usage of key ingredients. In addition to flavor and wellness characteristics, product stability for extended shelf life along with an appreciable cargo load in the entrapped emulsion is a major concern. Experimental protocols and path forward recommendations to overcome challenges and meet expectations in these emerging opportunities are also presented. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges in Chemical Processes)
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454 KiB  
Review
Methodology for Assessment and Optimization of Industrial Eco-Systems
by Shyamal Gondkar, Sivakumar Sreeramagiri and Edwin Zondervan
Challenges 2012, 3(1), 49-69; https://doi.org/10.3390/challe3010049 - 19 Jun 2012
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 7315
Abstract
There is an emerging trend in evaluating industrial activities using principles of industrial ecology because of the emphasis on sustainability initiatives by major process industries. Attention has also been targeted at developing planned industrial ecosystems (IEs) across the globe. We point out the [...] Read more.
There is an emerging trend in evaluating industrial activities using principles of industrial ecology because of the emphasis on sustainability initiatives by major process industries. Attention has also been targeted at developing planned industrial ecosystems (IEs) across the globe. We point out the current state-of-the art in this exciting discipline and subsequently identify the challenges that have not been encountered by the scientific community yet. Ecological Input Output Analysis (EIOA) may be considered as an “all-inclusive model” for the assessment of an IE because of its ability to capture the economic, environmental, and societal behavior of an IE. It could also be utilized to illustrate the detailed inter-relationships among the entities of an IE. Optimization of a fully integrated IE using conventional multi-objective optimization techniques would be too complex. For such multi-objective optimization problems, Hierarchical-Pareto optimization discussed in the literature has shown promise, but there is a need to establish a methodology to assess and/or improve the robustness of an IE using such techniques. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges in Chemical Processes)
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