Flow photochemistry: a meso-scale reactor for industrial applications

Sébastien Elgue (1, 2) , Tristan Aillet (2) , Karine Loubiere (2) , Annelyse Conté (1) , Odile Dechy-Cabaret (3) , Laurent E. Prat (2) , Clement R. Horn (4) , Olivier Lobet (4) , Sophie Vallon (4)

1 Plate-forme SNPE Matériaux énergétiques- APMEPI (Toulouse,France)
2 LGC - Laboratoire de Génie Chimique
3 LCC - Laboratoire de chimie de coordination
4 Corning SAS (Avon,France)

Developing flow photochemistry, especially at meso-scale where significant productivity is required, remains challenging. There is a need for innovative equipments generating highly controlled flow under light irradiation. In this work, a commercial solution, developed by Corning, is presented and studied by LGC and MEPI on an intramolecular (2+2) photo-cycloaddition. Detailed experimental and modelling analysis has been performed to emphasize the flow reactor behaviour and performances, and demonstrate its capability in producing up to 30g.h-1 of the desired molecule. Through this simple model reaction, the G1 photo-reactor is shown to be an efficient meso-scale reactor for industrial photo-applications development and production.

Mots clés: Photochemistry; Flow chemistry; Process intensification; PhotoReactor

Domaines: Génie chimique; Génie des procédés

Sébastien Elgue, Tristan Aillet, Karine Loubiere, Annelyse Conté, Odile Dechy-Cabaret, et al.. Flow photochemistry: a meso-scale reactor for industrial applications. Chimica Oggi, 2015, 33 (5), pp.58-62. ⟨hal-01362104⟩