A Paradigm Shift: From Batch Processing to Flow Chemistry.

Journal: Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)
Published Date: May 2, 2025

Abstract

Customisable flow chemistry reactors are becoming more affordable and accessible to wider research community. Coupled with rapidly advancing machine learning (ML) optimisation algorithms, time consuming research activities like catalyst discovery, reaction screening and optimisation can now be achievable quicker in flow, placing us in an interesting crossroad: should we start thinking about flow integration earlier in the research phase? In this perspective, parallels and differences between batch and flow heterogeneous catalytic reaction optimisations will be discussed with practical examples. Challenges in flow and batch processing are compared, combined with fresh perspectives of how reaction conditions can be adjusted more flexibly in multi-pass flow setting. Finally, recent progress of integrating computational techniques into flow process optimisation of contemporary "chemical looping" and paired reactions for more sustainable chemical productions will also be discussed.

Authors

  • Kallum Hiten Mehta
    Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK.
  • Riko I Made
    Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), A*STAR, 2 Fusionopolis Way, Singapore, 138634, Republic of Singapore.
  • Ivan P Parkin
    Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK.
  • Gopinathan Sankar
    Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK.
  • Albertus Denny Handoko
    Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), A*STAR, 1 Pesek Rd, Singapore, 627833, Republic of Singapore.

Keywords

No keywords available for this article.

External Resources

Popular Topics
Recent Journals