PIF

Particles In Flow: Development of Continuous Crystallization, Dispersion and Emulsion Processes for Tuneable (Sub)micron Particle Generation

Organic nano- and microparticles are very important in all kinds of industries, products and applications. Three examples of particles with a high added value for Flemish companies are: organic micron sized crystals of active pharmaceutical ingredients, nano dispersions of coating resins and microcapsules with active ingredients. Four companies have combined forces with three academic groups, with a proven track record in this field, to tackle problems associated with the production of these particles. Currently, batch reactors are used to produce the particles, but limitations in heat and mass transfer result in little control over the average particle size and particle size distribution and batch to batch variations. Higher standards maintained by the companies and their customers necessitate the industrial researchers to explore new and more robust technologies of particle synthesis. Upon executing this project, a large step in the direction of implementation of continuous processing technology in the Flemish nano- and microparticle production industry is taken.

The main advantages of continuous processing for these particles are:
  • tuneable particles size and smaller particle size distribution
  • control over crystal polymorphism and shape
  • on demand production of low quantities
  • less use of raw materials due to less out of specification production
  • less use of mixing energy and solvent in cleaning steps
  • scalability of processes
The PIF project aims to develop advanced (semi)-continuous processes to accurately control the average particle size, the particle size distribution and (polymorphic) shape of nano- and microparticles. A complementary team of experts uses fundamental knowledge of the properties of the various solid-liquid systems to study influences of mixing devices, fluid dynamic and interactions between particles mutually and between particles and reactor components. This knowledge is used to design continuous reactors at lab and pilot scale.

Project Details
Project type: ICON
Approved on: 26/10/2017
Duration: 01/11/2017 – 30/04/2020
Total budget: €1.780.259
Subsidy: €1.432.057
Project Partners