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HEDoctoral network2023–2027

MiEL · Doctoral network for microprocess engineering for electrosynthesis - new synthesis concepts for pharmaceutical/ fine chemical industry

Horizon Europe — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2023-01-01 → 2027-06-30
EU contribution
€2,511,762
Participants
16
Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-DN

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

Doctoral network for microprocess engineering for electrosynthesis - new synthesis concepts for pharmaceutical/ fine chemical industry

In the doctoral network on microprocess engineering for electrosynthesis “MiEL”, 12 doctoral candidates will develop synthesis technology for the chemical industries of the 21st century by combining the advantages of electrochemistry, micro process engineering and flow-chemistry. Electrochemical technologies offer the highest energy efficiency in production, and microfluidics offer the highest safety and best process control in chemical processes. A combination of these two technologies is the logical step towards a more reliable, flexible, safe and sustainable chemical industry. Especially for the synthesis of fine chemicals or pharmaceuticals with relatively low output but specific chemistry, this route offers advantages in production. Three synthetic routes - 1) two-phase electrosynthesis, 2) aqueous and 3) non-aqueous electrolytes - will be investigated. These three reaction routes can be regarded as relevant model processes for the pharmaceutical/fine chemical industry, showcasing the advantages of combining electrochemistry and microflow technology. For the three electrochemical routes, flow geometry and electrode design optimization will be accompanied by extensive modelling. Models on different scales ranging from meso- to continuum scale will be developed, helping to simulate electrode structures with multi-phase flow of fluids, multi-electron step reactions, and electrochemical flow cells. Moreover, the ambitious research objective is the upscale of this synthesis technology onto mass-scalable cells produced by printed circuit board technology (PCB technology) and additive manufacturing/ 3D printing. Designing cells on PCBs offers a perfect reaction environment and the possibility to produce cells with integrated control functionalities and sensors on board directly at the reaction site. This enables advanced process monitoring and control leading to high precision and safety in small- but also larger-scale syntheses. Finally, a techno-economical investigation will provide guidance across all disciplines and ensure that the outcome of the project defines the economic and ecological “sweet spot” in applied electrosynthesis.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

In MiEL 10 (+2) doctoral candidates will develop synthesis technology for the chemical industries of the 21st century by combining the advantages of electrochemistry, micro process engineering and flow-chemistry. In theory, electrochemical technologies offer the highest energy efficiency in production as well as microfluidics offer the highest safety and best process control in chemical processes. A combination of these two technologies seems to be the logical step towards a more reliable, flexible, safe and sustainable chemical industry. Especially for the synthesis of fine chemicals or pharmaceuticals with relatively low output but specific chemistry like fluorination, this route offers some advantages in production. Three synthesis routes - 1) two-phase electrosynthesis, 2) aqueous and 3) non-aqueous electrolytes - will be investigated. These three reaction paths can be regarded as relevant model processes for pharmaceutical/fine chemical industry. The ambitious research objective is to upscale these technologies using integrated cell concepts such as printed circuit board technology (PCB technology) with integrated process control, with in-situ optimized yield control. The cells can be assembled in synthesis arrays for the safe, flexible and sustainable synthesis of chemical products, which can also be used for catalytic screening. This approach will allow to find new synthetic routes for the sustainable chemical industry of the future.MiEls network is embedded into a highly specialized modelling community, which develops models on different length scales helping to simulate electrode structures with multi-phase flow of fluids, multi-electron step reactions, and electrochemical flow cells. A tecno-economical investigation provides guidance of all disciplines and ensures that the outcome of the project is to define the economic and ecologic “sweet spot” in applied electrosynthesis.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV · MunchenCoordinatorGermany
  • DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET · Kongens LyngbyDenmark
  • ECHEMICLES ZARTKORUEN MUKODO RESZVENYTARSASAG · SzegedHungary
  • GOLIN WISSENSCHAFTSMANAGEMENT, Dr. Simon GolinGermany
  • INNOVERDA · Roissy-en-FranceFrance
  • JANSSEN CILAG SA · MadridSpain
  • JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICA NV · BeerseBelgium
  • KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FUER TECHNOLOGIE · KarlsruheGermany
  • SORBONNE UNIVERSITE · ParisFrance
  • SZEGEDI TUDOMANYEGYETEM · SzegedHungary
  • TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET WIEN · WienAustria
  • UNIVERSITAT FUR WEITERBILDUNG KREMS · KremsAustria
  • UNIVERSITE PARIS CITE · ParisFrance
  • UNIVERSITEIT VAN AMSTERDAM · AmsterdamNetherlands
  • VYSOKA SKOLA CHEMICKO-TECHNOLOGICKA V PRAZE · PRAHACzechia
  • ZURCHER HOCHSCHULE FUR ANGEWANDTE WISSENSCHAFTEN · WinterthurSwitzerland

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union