Nanomaterials specialist Promethean Particles says that it has developed a solvent recovery system which allows it to reuse more than 95% of the organic solvents used to manufacture nanomaterials.
Promethean makes nanomaterials using a continuous-flow production process, and the nanoparticles manufactured are reproducible on a large scale, the company said. The company says that its plant in Nottingham, UK, features the largest reactor system of its kind in the world, with manufacturing capacities in excess of 1,000 tonnes of nanomaterials per year.
‘At Promethean, where the chemistry allows, we always aim to manufacture and process our products using water, rather than organic solvents, to minimise our environmental impact,’ said Lewis Neve, engineering manager at Promethean Particles. ‘However, in some instances, the chemistry isn’t compatible or there is no other option but to use organic solvents to achieve the final desired outcome. For example, when activating our metal organic frameworks (MOFs) to achieve greater surface area and adsorption potential, organic solvents are a must.’
According to Neve, the new solvent recovery system operates on a single batch distillation principle whereby the boiler drum is loaded with the solvent to be recovered before being heated to above the solvent’s boiling point. The vapor produced is then condensed and collected, and the solvent is recovered and re-used throughout a production campaign, from synthesis to post-synthesis.
This story uses material from Promethean Particles, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.
