Photochemistry - Prototype development system
- A coiled, flow reactor surrounds an array of diodes at a fixed wavelength.
- High output lamps are used, driving the chemistry fast, giving high yields.
- Being a flow system, product is continually produced.
- Yields as high as 98-99% are frequently, easily achieved.
Photochemistry
Compared to batch operation, flow photochemistry has several advantages, including:
- Consistent light penetration.
- Exposure time is controlled.
- Temperature control is more precise.
- Product continuously passes through the system maintaining optimal conditions.
- Flow Photochemistry produces:
- Higher yields with better selectivity, faster.
- Reduced waste.
- Easier purification.
- Free Radical reactions have modest power requirements.
- Stoichiometric chemistry requires require high power.
- High power LED’s with specific frequency for high quantum efficiency – best solution.
- High power halogen and metal halide lamps offer broad spectrum, and high power 300W – 2kW.
- We now have an 8kW LED system available.
- Low pressure UV lamps – lower power but emission at specific wavelengths.
- Generally designed to meet the requirements of individual projects.
Photochemistry System
- Example photochemistry system, built in-house.
- First Generation System
- Using an 8kW lamp, this generates 1.5 tonnes annually if put to continuous use.
Development and Commercial Systems
- In addition to development, we supply a number of commercial machine options.
- We have a one, a two and a four tube option.
- The two tube option has demonstrated commercial scale at 1.5 tonnes per annum output, the 4 tube option is capable of 3 tonnes per annum.
- Each tube is powered by a 4kw LED light source.
- Therefore the commercial machines are sized as 4, 8 and 16kw.
- The commercial systems will be backed up by a development system.
- This approach has been demonstrated on several commercial projects to date.