Miniature, Modular, Multiparameter Flow Cytometer to Facilitate Drug Evaluations

65666 The recovery of chemical byproducts from aqueous streams requires huge capital investments that can exceed $2.5 million per installation, even for streams with only ~500,000 lbs/yr, typical of small to intermediate chemical manufacturing. These costs are driven by the need to use inefficient conventional chemical reactors and the need to separate the organic phase in a separate unit operation. This project will combine a novel reactor design with cost effective phase transfer catalysis (PTC) technology to significantly reduce reactor and separation capital and energy costs. Phase I will determine the relative impact of reaction kinetics, reactor rotational speed, and feed rate on the conversion efficiency of two known PTC systems for the removal of phenol and acetate from water. The effect of critical variables on reactor size and cost will be determined in order to decide if the system is competitive with conventional reactor designs. Commercial Applications And Other Benefits as described by awardee: PTC technology should allow the recovery of byproducts at small and intermediate sized companies by recycling previously wasted chemical species that normally would have generated a pollution load, resulting in reduced greenhouse gases and energy use.