Unit operations. Chemical reaction engineering

The latest publications in this offer are:

• October 10, 2025

  J4810

  Acid polymer membrane water electrolysis

  Proton Exchange Membrane - PEM - water electrolysis is a promising technology for the production of high-purity hydrogen and oxygen, addressing current energy and environmental challenges. This article presents the underlying theoretical foundations, describes the operation of elementary cells and the role of key components such as electrocatalysts and polymer membranes, and lists the auxiliary equipment required for the proper operation of the machines. The main industrial applications are presented. Achievable performance levels and limitations and prospects for improvement are also analyzed and discussed.

• September 10, 2025

  AG3010

  Design and scheduling of pharmaceutical production workshops

  Batch processes produce high value-added compounds in multiproduct and multiobjective facilities. Their efficiency relies on the integrated management of design, planning, and scheduling. This article outlines the specific features of such processes in the pharmaceutical industry (recipes, campaigns, storage, performance criteria). It highlights the complexity of discrete decision-making and presents modular platforms using continuous flow chemistry as a flexible alternative that combines quality with environmental sustainability.

• September 10, 2025

  J4920

  Ecodesign: an innovation tool for sustainable chemistry

  In order to answer to sustainable development challenges, chemical industry must embrace eco-design to reduce its environmental impact while preserving its innovation potential. This article first presents the changes and choices facing the chemical industry that are driving its transformation. It then introduces life cycle assessment - LCA - and its methodological principles. LCA is a tool that provides a holistic evaluation of the environmental impacts of a product or service, thereby guiding industry decisions. The article goes on to illustrate this approach through comparative examples, analyzing the limitations and biases of LCA, and concludes with perspectives on strengthening eco-design.

• June 10, 2025

  J1280

  Heterogeneous catalysis for new energies

  Chemical catalysis is set to play a major role in the energy transition and, more generally, in the energy of the future. The aim is to selectively convert renewable energy sources into chemical carriers – including renewable hydrogen and e-fuels – to power human activities, while minimizing pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions. After introducing the essential concepts and traditional catalytic processes, this article presents the main catalytic pathways for small-molecule interconversion, thermochemical biomass and waste valorization, and electrochemical energy conversion and storage.

• February 10, 2025

  J4922 Review

  The six principles of plant eco-extraction

  Green extraction of natural products is based on the design of extraction processes that will reduce energy consumption and eliminate petroleum solvents, while ensuring a safe, high-quality extract. This concept helps meet the challenges of the 21st century for protecting both our environment and consumers, while at the same time making industry more competitive. This article presents the definition and principles of green extraction with applications in agrifood sectors, cosmetics and perfumery, biofuels and fine chemicals.

• February 10, 2025

  IN192 Review

  Microcapsules: from encapsulation to artificial cells

  Synthesis of microcapsules capable of encapsulating water-soluble payloads is of interest for cosmetic and pharmacological applications, but also for the production of artificial cells. There are a lot of methods available to produce such capsules; however, the main problem is to encapsulate payloads within them. In this article, several methods for synthesizing such microcapsules and why it remains difficult to encapsulate materials within them are commented. Finally, an emerging method to fabricate microcapsules is discussed; it consists of using all-in-water emulsions that can spontaneously encapsulate payloads.

• December 10, 2024

  J6137

  Ammonia production under moderate conditions

  The ammonia synthesis, 180 Mt/year, accounts for 2% of global energy consumption and 1.6% of CO2 emissions. Decarbonizing this production by the use of green hydrogen requires evolution of the current Haber-Bosch process towards small units, adapted to the intermittency of renewable energies and operating under moderate synthesis conditions, e.g. T=300-350°C and P=10-50 bar. It induces the development of new catalytic systems. This article provides an overview of recent developments in catalytic materials. Some of them could also be suitable for the ammonia synthesis with innovative processes, such as the "chemical looping" which overcomes certain thermodynamic limitations.

• December 10, 2024

  J8080

  Miniaturized chemical flow plants

  The features of miniaturized continuous-flow reactors enable them to overcome some of the limitations of conventional macrobatch reactors for chemical synthesis, with impressive results in both fundamental chemistry and production. After presenting the properties of fluidic reactors, this article describes their contribution to safety and their application in the control of toxic compounds on the one hand, and in the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients on the other, with particular emphasis on the "autonomous miniature factory" aspect.

• December 10, 2024

  J6650

  Phosphogypsum: from waste to valuable co-product

  Phosphogypsum (PG) generated during the manufacture of phosphoric acid from phosphate ore is classified in certain countries as waste or even hazardous waste. It is either dumped into coastal waters or stored in stacks. It is thus poorly exploited even though the latest scientific, technical and regulatory advances concerning its management and valorization have evolved. This article presents the analysis results of a set of documents published during the period 1995-2023, relating to the physico-chemical, radiological, ecotoxic and toxic characterization of PG, to the international regulations which govern its management and valorization around the world and to the recovery and use pathways making PG a valuable co-product.

• June 10, 2024

  J8300

  Modern, efficient supported catalysts obtained through integrative chemistry

  While combining the sol-gel process and the physical-chemistry of complex fluids, Integrative Chemistry allows to conceive monolithic oxide ceramics bearing an open porosity. These catalysts labelled hereafter as MUB, acronym for “Matériaux de l’Université de Bordeaux”, are bearing an open hierarchical porosity where both mass and photonic transports are optimized when compared with traditional mico-mesoporous materials. In this paper, their efficiencies are depicted over environmental-based remediation focus, either in liquid or gaseous phases. Finally, advantages of these new heterogeneous catalysts are listed along with perspectives to optimize their synthetic scheme based on technology.

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