CONTRIBUTOR
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SPEAKER
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Sabine Huebschmann, Institute of Technical Chemistry and Environmental Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Thuringia, Germany
Description
Microreaction technology may become one of the most promising tools of chemical engineering for deliberated green processes. Reasons are first of all the small inner dimensions of the reaction channels leading to high mass and very efficient heat transfer rates. Thus, unconventional reaction conditions, e.g., high p, T, c as well as alternative energy sources or novel reaction media can be applied to obtain higher reaction yields and/or selectivities while simultaneously reducing material and energy demands. Currently, several research projects dealing with process intensification in microstructured reactors are financially supported by the German Federal Environmental Foundation (Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, DBU). Some of these projects are accompanied in our working group by (simplified) Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA) already during research and development stages (RD) to ensure the development of verifiable green processes.
LCA is a widely applied method for evaluating the greenness of chemical processes, but is mostly applied for established processes or after the design process has reached the pilot-stage at least. This is often justified with the marginal amount of environmental impacts of the process under investigation at RD stages. But, this approach is far from satisfactory! As several authors stated, the environmental burdens of a process become predefined during RD.
The current accompanying SLCA approach and some results obtained within different case studies investigated will be presented. These case studies deal either with process intensification in the Kolbe-Schmitt synthesis or investigate multiphase reactions implementing ultrasound or ionic liquids.