ChemFlux And The PAT Initiative

In 2002, the FDA put forth a new initiative for the pharmaceutical industry. The Process and Analytical Technology (PAT) initiative was developed to drive for better understanding and optimization through more in-process monitoring, which has in-turn driven the need for new technologies.

PSL ChemFlux reactor systems address these issues by combining sensitive monitoring techniques with levels of control only previously reserved for small laboratory scale systems. The ability to control a process at the critical stages can deliver numerous benefits to the cost and efficacy of any process.

ChemFlux intelligent reactors are sophisticated data gathering systems, which employ Coflux® technology, developed by Ashe Morris. The temperature (°C) of the reaction is constantly monitored and controlled, other data, such as: Enthalpy (kJoules), Power (Watts) and the Heat Transfer Coefficient [Watts / (m² · K)] is also gathered in real time. This new information can also be used to effectively monitor, control and optimize processes.

Examples of process optimization:

• Enthalpy data can be used to monitor the amount of product formed in crystallization (actual weight amounts), and then used to control the crystal growth at a predetermined rate.
• Power data can be used to monitor the rate of change in a process (e.g. grams/sec), and then used to control the dissolution of a solid reactant.
• Heat transfer coefficient data can be used to monitor: agitator efficiency, fouling on the reactor surface and viscosity, this can then be to control polymerization processes to maintain reactor efficiency.

The ChemFlux systems not only collect real-time data, but also utilize the data to control the process. It is sensitive to small events, responsive to large events, accurate across the range, and allows for repeatable experiments. These benefits come from the excellent temperature control and real-time analysis of the process.

Almost all processes can benefit from the ChemFlux systems' monitoring and control, such as:

• General Reactions
• Crystallisations
• Polymerizations
• Neutralizations
• Freezing
• Drying
• Distillations
• Dissolutions of solids
• Mixing of fluids
• Condensations
• Melting
• Fermentations
• Mammalian cell growth
• Decompositions
• Bio-Processing

PSL ChemFlux reactor systems can greatly assist companies to embrace the guidelines provided by the FDA in the PAT Initiative. For further information on ChemFlux contact us at chemflux@powdersystems.com to arrange a trial so that you can witness the benefits with your own eyes!

Source: Powder Systems Limited