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Flexible, modulare Produktionsanlagen auf der Basis von verfahrenstechnischen Teilmodulen stellen einen vielversprechenden Ansatz für die kontinuierliche Produktion von Fein- und Spezialchemikalien dar. Der Schwerpunkt des Horizont-2020-Projekts der Europäischen Kommission CONSENS (Integrated Control and Sensing) liegt in der Implementierung von innovativen Sensorkonzepten zur Prozessüberwachung und -regelung innerhalb von containerbasierten modularen Produktionsan lagen. In diesem Artikel wird die Feldintegration eines Online-NMR-Sensors als smartes Modul für die Prozesskontrolle beschrieben. Dieses Modul basiert auf einem kommerziell erhältlichen Niederfeld-NMRSpektrometer, das zurzeit für die Anwendung im Laborbereich erhältlich ist. Für die Feldintegration wurde ein ATEX-zertifiziertes, explosionsgeschütztes Gehäuse entwickelt sowie Automationsschemen für den unbeaufsichtigten Betrieb und für die spektrale Datenauswertung erstellt. Nachdem die Machbarkeit und Leistungsfähigkeit des Sensorkonzeptes in Laborexperimente an einer aromatischen Substitutionsreaktion bereits erfolgreich demonstriert wurde, ist die Inbetriebnahme des NMR-Sensormoduls in
industrieller Umgebung für 2017 geplant.
Currently research in chemical manufacturing moves towards flexible plug-and-play approaches focusing on modular plants, capable of producing small scales on-demand with short down-times between individual cam-paigns. This approach allows for efficient use of hardware, a faster optimization of the process conditions, and thus, an accelerated introduction of new products to the market. Driven mostly by the search for chemical syntheses under biocompatible conditions, so-called “click” chemistry rapidly became a growing field of research. The re-sulting simple one-pot reactions are so far only scarcely accompanied by an adequate optimization via compara-bly straightforward and robust analysis techniques. Here we report on a fast and reliable calibration-free online high field NMR monitoring approach for technical mixtures. It combines a versatile fluidic system, continuous-flow measurement with a time interval of 20 s per spectrum, and a robust, automated algo-rithm to interpret the ob-tained data. All spectra were acquired using a 500 MHz NMR spectrometer (Varian) with a dual band flow probe having a 1/16 inch polymer tubing working as a flow cell. Single scan 1H spectra were recorded with an acquisition time of 5 s, relaxation delay of 15 s.
Low field NMR spectroscopy for sustainable and flexible production of high quality chemical products
(2017)
The main development goal of process industries is to advance the continuous production of high-value products that meet high quality demands in flexible intensified continuous plants by introducing novel online sensing equipment and closed-loop control (CONSENS – integrated control and sensing- is funded from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme). Therefore, we present the field integration of a benchtop NMR instrument into a modular production environment, focussing on suitable equipment for operation in hazardous areas with risk of explosive atmospheres.
We investigated a pharmaceutical reaction step in order to describe challenges for the experimental design, the evaluation of complex NMR spectra and demonstrate automated data analysis tools.
Online monitoring and process control requires fast and noninvasive analytical methods, which are able to monitor the concentration of reactants in multicomponent mixtures with parts-per-million resolution. Online NMR spectros-copy can meet these demands when flow probes are directly coupled to reactors, since this method features a high linearity between absolute signal area and sample concentration, which makes it an absolute analytical com-parison method being independent on the matrix. Due to improved magnet design and field shimming strategies portable and robust instruments have been introduced to the market by several manufacturers during the last few years. First studies with this technology showed promising results to monitor chemical reaction in the laboratory.
Process monitoring of an intensified continuous production unit with compact NMR spectroscopy
(2017)
Monitoring chemical reactions is the key to chemical process control. Today, mainly optical online methods are applied. NMR spectroscopy has a high potential for direct loop process control. Compact NMR instruments based on permanent magnets are robust and inexpensive analysers, which feature advantages like low maintenance, ease of use, and cryogen-free operation. Instruments for online NMR measurements equipped with a flow-through cell, possessing a good signal-to-noise-ratio, robustness, and meeting the requirements for integration into industrial plants (i.e., explosion safety and fully automated data analysis) are currently not available off the rack.
Intensified continuous processes are in focus of current research. Flexible (modular) chemical plants can produce different products using the same equipment with short down-times between campaigns and quick introduction of new products to the market. In continuous flow processes online sensor data and tight closed-loop control of the product quality are mandatory. Otherwise there is a huge risk of producing large amounts of out-of-spec (OOS) products. This is addressed in the European Union’s Research Project CONSENS by development and integration of smart sensor modules for process monitoring and control within such modular plant setups.
The presented NMR module is provided in an explosion proof housing with a module size of 57 x 57 x 85 cm and involves a compact 43.5 MHz NMR spectrometer together with an acquisition unit and a programmable logic controller for automated data preparation (phasing, baseline correction) and evaluation. Indirect Hard Modeling (IHM) was selected for data analysis of the low-field NMR spectra. A set-up for monitoring continuous reactions in a thermostated 1/8” tubular reactor using automated syringe pumps was used to validate the IHM models by using high-field NMR spectroscopy as analytical reference method.
Currently research in chemical manufacturing moves towards flexible plug-and-play approaches focusing on modular plants, capable of producing small scales on-demand with short down-times between individual cam-paigns. This approach allows for efficient use of hardware, a faster optimization of the process conditions, and thus, an accelerated introduction of new products to the market. Driven mostly by the search for chemical syntheses under biocompatible conditions, so-called “click” chemistry rapidly became a growing field of research. The re-sulting simple one-pot reactions are so far only scarcely accompanied by an adequate optimization via compara-bly straightforward and robust analysis techniques. Here we report on a fast and reliable calibration-free online high field NMR monitoring approach for technical mixtures. It combines a versatile fluidic system, continuous-flow measurement with a time interval of 20 s per spectrum, and a robust, automated algo-rithm to interpret the ob-tained data. All spectra were acquired using a 500 MHz NMR spectrometer (Varian) with a dual band flow probe having a 1/16 inch polymer tubing working as a flow cell. Single scan 1H spectra were recorded with an acquisition time of 5 s, relaxation delay of 15 s.
Process monitoring of an intensified continuous production unit with compact NMR spectroscopy
(2016)
Monitoring chemical reactions is the key to chemical process control. Today, mainly optical online methods are applied. NMR spectroscopy has a high potential for direct loop process control. Compact NMR instruments based on permanent magnets are robust and relatively inexpensive analyzers, which feature advantages like low cost, low maintenance, ease of use, and cryogen-free operation. Instruments for online NMR measurements equipped with a flow-through cell, possessing a good signal-to-noise-ratio, sufficient robustness, and meeting the requirements for integration into industrial plants (i.e., explosion safety and fully automated data analysis) are cur-rently not available off the rack. Recently, promising benchtop NMR instruments with acceptable performance came to market and process integrated sensors developed on basis of such laboratory instruments are on their way.
Monitoring chemical reactions is the key to chemical process control. Today, mainly optical online methods are applied. NMR spectroscopy has a high potential for direct loop process control. Compact NMR instruments based on permanent magnets are robust and inexpensive analysers, which feature advantages like low maintenance, ease of use, and cryogen-free operation. Instruments for online NMR measurements equipped with a flow-through cell, possessing a good signal-to-noise-ratio, robustness, and meeting the requirements for integration into industrial plants (i.e., explosion safety and fully automated data analysis) are currently not available off the rack.
Intensified continuous processes are in focus of current research. Flexible (modular) chemical plants can produce different products using the same equipment with short down-times between campaigns and quick introduction of new products to the market. In continuous flow processes online sensor data and tight closed-loop control of the product quality are mandatory. Otherwise there is a huge risk of producing large amounts of out-of-spec (OOS) products. This is addressed in the European Union’s Research Project CONSENS (www.consens-spire.eu) by development and integration of smart sensor modules for process monitoring and control within such modular plant setups.
The presented NMR module is provided in an explosion proof housing with a module size of 57 x 57 x 85 cm and involves a compact 43.5 MHz NMR spectrometer together with an acquisition unit and a programmable logic controller for automated data preparation (phasing, baseline correction) and evaluation. Indirect Hard Modeling (IHM) was selected for data analysis of the low-field NMR spectra. A set-up for monitoring continuous reactions in a thermostated 1/8” tubular reactor using automated syringe pumps was used to validate the IHM models by using high-field NMR spectroscopy as analytical reference method.
Validation report on NMR
(2017)
The departure from the current automation landscape to next generation automation concepts for the process industry has already begun. Smart functions of sensors simplify their use and enable plug and play integration, even though they may appear to be more complex at first sight. Smart sensors enable concepts like self-diagnostics, self-calibration, and self-configuration/ parameterization whenever our current automation landscape allows it.
Here we summarize the currently discussed general requirements for process sensors 4.0 and introduce a smart online NMR sensor module as example, which was developed for an intensified industrial process funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (www.consensspire.eu).
Currently, research in chemical manufacturing moves towards flexible plug-and-play approaches focusing on modular plants, capable of producing small scales on-demand with short down-times between individual campaigns. This approach allows for efficient use of hardware, a faster optimization of the process conditions, and thus, an accelerated introduction of new products to the market. Driven mostly by the search for chemical syntheses under biocompatible conditions, so-called “click” chemistry rapidly became a growing field of research. The resulting simple one-pot reactions are so far only scarcely accompanied by an adequate optimization via comparably straightforward and robust analysis techniques.
Here we report on a fast and reliable calibration-free online high field NMR monitoring approach for technical mixtures. It combines a versatile fluidic system, continuous-flow measurement with a time interval of 20 s per spectrum, and a robust, automated algorithm to interpret the obtained data. All spectra were acquired using a 500 MHz NMR spectrometer (Varian) with a dual band flow probe having a 1/16-inch polymer tubing working as a flow cell. Single scan 1H NMR spectra were recorded with an acquisition time of 5 s, relaxation delay of 15 s. As a proof-of-concept, the thiol-ene coupling between N-boc cysteine methyl ester and allyl alcohol was conducted in non-deuterated solvents while its time-resolved behaviour was characterised with step tracer experiments.
Through the application of spectral modeling the signal area for each reactant can be deconvoluted in the online spectra and thus converted to the respective concentrations or molar ratios. The signals which were suitable for direct integration were used herein for comparison purposes of both methods.
For reaction monitoring and process control using NMR instruments, in particular, after acquisition of the FID the data needs to be corrected in real-time for common effects using fast interfaces and automated methods. When it comes to NMR data evaluation under industrial process conditions, the shape of signals can change drastically due to nonlinear effects. Additionally, the multiplet structure becomes more dominant because of the comparably low-field strengths which results in overlapping of multiple signals. However, the structural and quantitative information is still present but needs to be extracted by applying predictive models.
We present a range of approaches for the automated spectra analysis moving from statistical approach, (i.e., Partial Least Squares Regression) to physically motivated spectral models (i.e., Indirect Hard Modeling). By using the benefits of traditional qNMR experiments data analysis models can meet the demands of the PAT community (Process Analytical Technology) regarding low calibration effort/calibration free methods, fast adaptions for new reactants, or derivatives and robust automation schemes.
Monitoring chemical reactions is the key to chemical process control. Today, mainly optical online methods are applied, which are calibration intensive. NMR spectroscopy has a high potential for direct loop process control while exhibiting short set-up times. Compact NMR instruments make NMR spectroscopy accessible in industrial and harsh environments for advanced process monitoring and control.
Within the European Union’s Research Project CONSENS (Integrated CONtrol and SENsing, www.consens-spire.eu) by development and integration of a smart NMR module for process monitoring was designed and delivers online spectra of various reactions. The presented NMR module is provided in an explosion proof housing of 57 x 57 x 85 cm module size and involves a compact spectrometer together with an acquisition unit and a programmable logic controller for automated data preparation (phasing, baseline correction), and evaluation.
For reaction monitoring and process control using NMR instruments after acquisition of the FID the data needs to be corrected in real-time for common effects using fast interfaces and automated methods.
When it comes to NMR data evaluation under industrial process conditions, the shape of signals can change drastically due to nonlinear effects. Additionally, the multiplet structure becomes more dominant because of the comparably low-field strengths which results in overlapping of multiple signals. However, the structural and quantitative information is still present but needs to be extracted by applying predictive models.
We present a range of approaches for the automated spectra analysis moving from statistical approach, (i.e., Partial Least Squares Regression) to physically motivated spectral models (i.e., Indirect Hard Modelling and Quantum Mechanical calculations). By using the benefits of traditional qNMR experiments data analysis models can meet the demands of the PAT community (Process Analytical Technology) regarding low calibration effort/calibration free methods, fast adaptions for new reactants, or derivatives and robust automation schemes.
Der Wandel von der aktuellen Automation zum smarten Sensor ist im vollen Gange. Automatisierungstechnik, sowie die Informations- und Kommunikationstechnik (IKT) verschmelzen zunehmend. Eine Topologie für smarte Sensoren, die das Zusammenwirken mit daten- und modellbasierten Steuerungen bis hin zur Softsensorik beschreibt gibt es bis heute jedoch noch nicht. Um zu einer störungsfreien Kommunikation aller Komponenten auf Basis eines einheitlichen Protokolls zu kommen sollte die Prozessindustrie die Weichen für eine smarte und sichere Kommunikationsarchitektur stellen. Sie verwehrt stattdessen die Entwicklungen ihrer Zulieferer und wartet lieber ab. Der Beitrag greift die Anforderungen der Technologie-Roadmap „Prozess-Sensoren 4.0“ auf und zeigt Möglichkeiten zu ihrer Realisierung am Beispiel eines Online-NMR-Analysators, der im Rahmen eines EU-Projekts entwickelt wurde.
Monitoring chemical reactions is the key to chemical process control. Today, mainly optical online methods are applied, which require excessive calibration effort. NMR spectroscopy has a high potential for direct loop process control while exhibiting short set-up times. Compact NMR instruments make NMR spectroscopy accessible in industrial and harsh environments for advanced process Monitoring and control, as demonstrated within the European Union’s Horizon 2020 project CONSENS.
We present a range of approaches for the automated spectra analysis moving from conventional multivariate statistical approach, (i.e., Partial Least Squares Regression) to physically motivated spectral models (i.e., Indirect Hard Modelling and Quantum Mechanical calculations). By using the benefits of traditional qNMR experiments data analysis models can meet the demands of the PAT community (Process Analytical Technology) regarding low calibration effort/calibration free methods, fast adaptions for new reactants or derivatives and robust automation schemes.
The departure from the current automation landscape to next generation automation concepts for the process industry has already begun. Smart functions of sensors simplify their use and enable plug-and-play integration, even though they may appear to be more complex at first sight. Smart sensors enable concepts like self-diagnostics, self-calibration, and self-configuration/parameterization whenever our current automation landscape allows it. Here we summarize the currently discussed general requirements for process sensors 4.0 and introduce a smart online NMR sensor module as example, which was developed for an intensified industrial process funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (www.consens-spire.eu).
Simple calibration concept of an online NMR module demonstrated in a modularised production plant
(2017)
Monitoring specific information (such as physico-chemical properties, chemical re-actions, etc.) is the key to chemical process control. Within the CONSENS Project, the challenge to adapt a commercially available benchtop NMR spectrometer to the full requirements of an automated chemical production environment was tack-led. The developed online NMR module was provided in an explosion proof housing and involves a compact 43.5 MHz NMR spectrometer together with an acquisition unit, a programmable logic controller for automated triggering, flow con-trol, as well as data communication.
First results of an aromatic coupling reaction in lab scale showed a general feasibil-ity according to the signal information in the acquired NMR spectra even though with a considerable overlap. Due to the comparatively low field strength of the NMR spectrometer multivariate methods had to be considered for the prediction of con-centration profiles based on spectral data. Typically, for industrial application of those methods, e.g. Partial Least Squares Regression (PLS-R) as well as Indirect Hard Modeling, large amount of calibration data is demanded, which must be ac-quired in time consuming lab-scale experiments and offline analytics. When it comes to changes in raw materials (e.g., varying functional groups, additional stabi-lizing agents) calibration experiments and data evaluation models are developed again. Here we present an approach of automated data analysis tools for low field NMR spectra with minimal calibration effort. The algorithms are based on Indirect Hard Modeling, whereby each component in each mixture spectra can be rep-resented by several flexible peak functions (pure component models). This means, that only pure component NMR spectra are needed to generate a first evaluation model. The flexibility of peak functions in the spectral model can be adjusted via constraints of peak parameters. The area of any pure component model can either be converted to concentrations based on a one-point calibration on raw material concentration or even neat solvent signals. In several cases it has been shown, the IHM works almost independently of the matrix of the real samples. Such a calibration can be repeated daily in the beginning of each process run with minimal time effort. Moreover, additional pure components can be added to the model or even substitut-ed while keeping the previously adjusted peak function constraints. The proposed method exhibited good agreement of resulting concentration data from low field NMR spectra, when compared to an online high field NMR spectrometer as refer-ence instrument.
Already Analyzing or Still Calibrating? - Demonstration of an online NMR analyzer in pilot scale
(2018)
The departure from the current automation landscape to next generation automation concepts for the process industry has already begun. Smart functions of sensors simplify their use and enable plug-and-play integration, even though they may appear to be more complex at first sight. Monitoring specific information (i.e., “chemical” such as physico-chemical properties, chemical reactions, etc.) is the key to “chemical” process control. Here we introduce our smart online NMR sensor module provided in an explosion proof housing as example.
Due to NMR spectroscopy as an “absolute analytical comparison method”, independent of the matrix, it runs with extremely short set-up times in combination with “modular” spectral models. Such models can simply be built upon pure component NMR spectra within a few hours (i.e., assignment of the NMR signals to the components) instead of tedious calibrations runs. We present a range of approaches for the automated spectra analysis moving from statistical approach, (i.e., Partial Least Squares Regression) to physically motivated spectral models (i.e., Indirect Hard Modelling and Quantum Mechanical calculations).
Based on concentration measurements of reagents and products by the NMR analyzer a continuous production and direct loop process control were successfully realized for several validation runs in a modular industrial pilot plant and compared to conventional analytical methods (HPLC, near infrared spectroscopy). The NMR analyser was developed for an intensified industrial process funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (“Integrated CONtrol and SENsing”, www.consens-spire.eu).
Compact nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) instruments make NMR spectroscopy and relaxometry accessible in industrial and harsh environments for reaction characterization and process control. Robust field integration of NMR systems have to face explosion protection or integration into process control systems with short set-up times. This paves the way for industrial automation in real process environments.
The design of failsafe, temperature and pressure resistant flow through cells along with their NMR-specific requirements is an essential cornerstone to enter industrial production plants and fulfill explosion safety requirements. Additionally, if fast reactions are monitored, suitable mixing devices need to be placed in close vicinity to the measuring volume to mix the reactants properly.
NMR-specific requirements aim at full quantitative pre-magnetization and acquisition with maximum sensitivity while reducing sample transfer times and dwell-times. All parameters are individually dependent on the applied NMR instrument.
Luckily, an increasing number of applications are reported together with an increasing variety of commercial equipment. However, these contributions have to be reviewed thoroughly.
The performance of sample flow cells commonly used in online analytics and especially for low-field NMR spectroscopy was experimentally and theoretically investigated by 1H-NMR experiments and numerical simulations. Especially, the applicability of 3D printed zirconium dioxide for innovative flow cell designs was of interest. Here, we demonstrate and discuss an automated test method to determine the critical parameters of flow through cells for quantitative online NMR spectroscopy. The setup is based on randomized setpoints of flow rates in order to reduce temperature related effects. Five flow cells and tubing were assessed and compared for high-field as well as low-field NMR spectrometers.
Produzieren Sie schon oder kalibrieren Sie noch? – Online-NMR-Spektrometer als Smarte Feldgeräte
(2018)
Der Vortrag zeigt allgemeine Anforderungen an "smarte Feldgeräte" und deren Entwicklung in den vergangenen Jahren. Am Beispiel eines smarten Online-NMR-Sensors, der in einem EU-Projekt von der BAM entwickelt wurde, wird die Umsetzung der Anforderung aufgezeigt. Schließlich werden weitere Technologieanforderungen und Lösungsansätze vorgestellt.
Im Zuge der Digitalisierung der Prozessindustrie werden zunehmend modellbasiere Echtzeitoptimierungsverfahren eingesetzt, sog. „Advanced Process Control“. Mithilfe der sogenannten Modifier-Adaptation ist eine iterative Betriebspunktoptimierung auch mit ungenauen Modellen möglich, sofern zuverlässige Prozessdaten zur Verfügung stehen. Am Beispiel eines smarten Online-NMR-Sensors, der in einem EU-Projekt von der BAM entwickelt wurde, konnte das Konzept in einer modularen Produktionsanlage zur Herstellung eines pharmazeutischen Wirkstoffs erfolgreich getestet werden.
Modular plants using intensified continuous processes represent an appealing concept to produce pharmaceuticals. It can improve quality, safety, sustainability, and profitability compared to batch processes, and it enables plug-and-produce reconfiguration for fast product changes. To facilitate this flexibility by real-time quality control, we developed a solution that can be adapted quickly to new processes and includes a compact Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometer for online quality monitoring as well as a new model-based control approach. The NMR sensor is a benchtop device enhanced to the requirements of automated chemical production including ro-bust evaluation of sensor data.
Here, we present alternatives for the quantitative determination of the analytes using modular, physically motivated models. These models can be adapted to new substances solely by the use of their corresponding pure component spectra, which can either be derived from experimental spectra as well as from quantum mechanical models or NMR predictors. Modular means that spec-tral models can simply be exchanged together with alternate reagents and products. Beyond that, we comprehensively calibrated an NIR spectrometer based on online NMR process data for the first time within an industrial plant. The integrated solution was developed for a metal organic reac-tion running on a commercial-scale modular pilot plant and it was tested under industrial conditions.
In case study one of the CONSENS project, two aromatic substances were coupled by a lithiation reaction, which is a prominent example in pharmaceutical industry. The two aromatic reactants (Aniline and o-FNB) were mixed with Lithium-base (LiHMDS) in a continuous modular plant to produce the desired product (Li-NDPA) and a salt (LiF). The salt precipitates which leads to the formation of particles. The feed streams were subject to variation to drive the plant to its optimum.
The uploaded data comprises the results from four days during continuous plant operation time. Each day is denoted from day 1-4 and represents the dates 2017-09-26, 2017-09-28, 2017-10-10, 2017-10-17.
In the following the contents of the files are explained.
Monitoring chemical reactions is the key to chemical process control. Today, mainly
optical online methods are applied. NMR spectroscopy has a high potential for direct
loop process control. Compact NMR instruments based on permanent magnets
are robust and relatively inexpensive analysers, which feature advantages like low
cost, low maintenance, ease of use, and cryogen-free operation. Instruments for
online NMR measurements equipped with a flow-through cell, possessing a good
signal-to-noise-ratio, sufficient robustness, and meeting the requirements for
integration into industrial plants (i.e., explosion safety and fully automated data
analysis) are currently not available off the rack.
Intensified continuous processes are in focus of current research. Flexible (modular)
chemical plants can produce different products using the same equipment with short
down-times between campaigns and quick introduction of new products to the
market. In continuous flow processes online sensor data and tight closed-loop control
of the product quality are mandatory. If these are not available, there is a huge risk of
producing large amounts of out-of-spec (OOS) products. This is addressed in the
European Unionʼs Research Project CONSENS (Integrated Control and Sensing)
by development and integration of smart sensor modules for process monitoring and
control within such modular plant setups.
The presented NMR module is provided in an explosion proof housing of 57 x 57 x
85 cm module size and involves a compact 43.5 MHz NMR spectrometer together
with an acquisition unit and a programmable logic controller for automated data
preparation (phasing, baseline correction) and evaluation. Indirect Hard Modeling
(IHM) was selected for data analysis of the low-field NMR spectra. A set-up for
monitoring continuous reactions in a thermostated 1/8” tubular reactor using
automated syringe pumps was used to validate the IHM models by using high-field
NMR spectroscopy as analytical reference method.
Process analytical techniques are extremely useful tools for chemical production and manufacture and are of particular interest to the pharmaceutical, food and (petro-) chemical industries.
Today, mainly optical online methods are applied. NMR spectroscopy has a high potential for direct loop process control. Compact NMR instruments based on permanent magnets are robust and relatively inexpensive analysers, which feature advantages like low cost, low maintenance, ease of use, and cryogen-free operation. Instruments for online NMR measurements equipped with a flow-through cell, possessing a good signal-to-noise-ratio, sufficient robustness, and meeting the requirements for integration into industrial plants (i.e., explosion safety and fully automated data analysis) are currently not available off the rack.
A major advantage of NMR spectroscopy is that the method features a high linearity between absolute signal area and sample concentration, which makes it an absolute analytical comparison method which is independent of the matrix. This is an important prerequisite for robust data evaluation strategies within a control concept and reduces the need for extensive maintenance of the evaluation model over the time of operation. Additionally, NMR spectroscopy provides orthogonal, but complimentary physical information to conventional, e.g., optical spectroscopy. It increases the accessible information for technical processes, where aromatic-toaliphatic conversions or isomerizations occur and conventional methods fail due to only minor changes in functional groups.
As a technically relevant example, the catalytic hydrogenation of 2-butyne-1,4-diol and further pharmaceutical reactions were studied using an online NMR sensor based on a commercially available low-field NMR spectrometer within the framework of the EU project CONSENS (Integrated Control and Sensing).
Currently research in chemical manufacturing moves towards flexible plug-and-play approaches focusing on modular plants, capable of producing small scales ondemand with short down-times between individual campaigns. This approach allows for efficient use of hardware, a faster optimization of the process conditions, and thus, an accelerated introduction of new products to the market. Driven mostly by the search for chemical syntheses under biocompatible conditions, so-called “click” chemistry rapidly became a growing field of research. The resulting simple one-pot reactions are so far only scarcely accompanied by an adequate optimization via comparably straightforward and robust analysis techniques. Here we report on a fast and reliable calibration-free online high field NMR monitoring approach for technical mixtures. It combines a versatile fluidic system, continuous-flow measurement with a time interval of 20 s per spectrum, and a robust, automated algorithm to interpret the obtained data. All spectra were acquired using a 500 MHz NMR spectrometer (Varian) with a dual band flow probe having a 1/16 inch polymer tubing working as a flow cell. Single scan 1H spectra were recorded with an acquisition time of 5 s, relaxation delay of 15 s. As a proof-of-concept, the thiol-ene coupling between N-boc cysteine methyl ester and allyl alcohol was conducted in non-deuterated solvents while its time-resolved behaviour was characterised with step tracer experiments Through the application of spectral modeling the signal area for each reactant can be deconvoluted in the online spectra and thus converted to the respective concentrations or molar ratios. The signals which were suitable for direct integration were used herein for comparison purposes of both methods.
Monitoring chemical reactions is the key to chemical process control. Today, mainly optical online methods are applied. NMR spectroscopy has a high potential for direct loop process control. Compact NMR instruments based on permanent magnets are robust and relatively inexpensive analysers, which feature advantages like low cost, low maintenance, ease of use, and cryogen-free operation. Instruments for online NMR measurements equipped with a flow-through cell, possessing a good signal-to-noise-ratio, sufficient robustness, and meeting the requirements for integration into industrial plants (i.e., explosion safety and fully automated data analysis) are currently not available off the rack.
Intensified continuous processes are in focus of current research. Flexible (modular) chemical plants can produce different products using the same equipment with short down-times between campaigns and quick introduction of new products to the market. In continuous flow processes online sensor data and tight closed-loop control of the product quality are mandatory. If these are not available, there is a huge risk of producing large amounts of out-of-spec (OOS) products. This is addressed in the European Union’s Research Project CONSENS (Integrated Control and Sensing) by development and integration of smart sensor modules for process monitoring and control within such modular plant setups.
The presented NMR module is provided in an explosion proof housing of 57 x 57 x 85 cm module size and involves a compact 43.5 MHz NMR spectrometer together with an acquisition unit and a programmable logic controller for automated data preparation (phasing, baseline correction) and evaluation. Indirect Hard Modeling (IHM) was selected for data analysis of the low-field NMR spectra. A set-up for monitoring continuous reactions in a thermostated 1/8” tubular reactor using automated syringe pumps was used to validate the IHM models by using high-field NMR spectroscopy as analytical reference method.
Currently research in chemical manufacturing moves towards flexible plug-and-play approaches focusing on modular plants, capable of producing small scales on-demand with short down-times between individual campaigns. This approach allows for efficient use of hardware, a faster optimization of the process conditions, and thus, an accelerated introduction of new products to the market. Driven mostly by the search for chemical syntheses under biocompatible conditions, so-called “click” chemistry rapidly became a growing field of research. The resulting simple one-pot reactions are so far only scarcely accompanied by an adequate optimization via comparably straightforward and robust analysis techniques. Here we report on a fast and reliable calibration-free online high field NMR monitoring approach for technical mixtures. It combines a versatile fluidic system, continuous-flow measurement with a time interval of 20 s per spectrum, and a robust, automated algorithm to interpret the obtained data. All spectra were acquired using a 500 MHz NMR spectrometer (Varian) with a dual band flow probe having a 1/16 inch polymer tubing working as a flow cell. Single scan 1H spectra were recorded with an acquisition time of 5 s, relaxation delay of 15 s. As a proof-of-concept, the thiol-ene coupling between N-boc cysteine methyl ester and allyl alcohol was conducted in non-deuterated solvents while its time-resolved behaviour was characterised with step tracer experiments
Through the application of spectral modeling the signal area for each reactant can be deconvoluted in the online spectra and thus converted to the respective concentrations or molar ratios. The signals which were suitable for direct integration were used herein for comparison purposes of both methods.
Currently research in chemical manufacturing moves towards flexible plug-and-play approaches focusing on modular plants, capable of producing small scales on-demand with short down-times between individual campaigns. This approach allows for efficient use of hardware, a faster optimization of the process conditions, and thus, an accelerated introduction of new products to the market [1]. Driven mostly by the search for chemical syntheses under biocompatible conditions, so-called “click” chemistry rapidly became a growing field of research. The resulting simple one-pot reactions are so far only scarcely accompanied by an adequate optimization via comparably straightforward and robust analysis techniques. Here we report on a fast and reliable calibration-free online high field NMR monitoring approach for technical mixtures. It combines a versatile fluidic system, continuous-flow measurement with a time interval of 20 s per spectrum, and a robust, automated algo-rithm to interpret the obtained data. All spectra were acquired using a 500 MHz NMR spectrometer (Varian) with a dual band flow probe having a 1/16 inch polymer tubing working as a flow cell. Single scan 1H spectra were recorded with an acquisition time of 5 s, relaxation delay of 15 s.
For reaction monitoring and process control using NMR instruments, in particular, after acquisition of the FID the data needs to be corrected in real-time for common effects using fast interfaces and automated methods. Conventionally, sensors have to be calibrated in a first step to find a response curve between the sensor signal and physical or chemical properties of the sample. In a second step, a model of the response between these parameters (e.g., concentrations) and the targeted quality specifications is needed. Thanks to the direct proportionality of the molar concentrations and the NMR signal, it could directly be used in the near future to relate the process target quality specification to sensor data – also in combination with multiple other sensor or process information.
Online monitoring and process control requires fast and noninvasive analytical methods, which are able to monitor the concentration of reactants in multicomponent mixtures with parts-per-million resolution. Online NMR spectros-copy can meet these demands when flow probes are directly coupled to reactors, since this method features a high linearity between absolute signal area and sample concentration, which makes it an absolute analytical com-parison method being independent on the matrix. Due to improved magnet design and field shimming strategies portable and robust instruments have been introduced to the market by several manufacturers during the last few years. First studies with this technology showed promising results to monitor chemical reaction in the laboratory.
Wthin the project CONSENS (www.consens-spire.eu), the continuous production of high-value products in small production scale is advanced by introducing benchtop NMR spectroscopy. CONSENS is a research and innovation project on inte-grated control and sensing for sustainable operation of flexible intensified processes.
This poster will present the first steps of the process integration of a benchtop NMR instrument for a lithiation process and outlines further fields of activity and potential challenges. Hereby, the following issues are going to be addressed: explosion-proof housing for the spectrometer, automation of signal processing (data pretreatment, evaluation and communication to the control system), flow cells and measuring conditions. Furthermore, first online spectra of the lithiation reaction in batch mode were acquired in lab scale. The reaction was performed in a 25 mL glass reactor with thermal jackets for temperature control of the reaction mixture. The Li-HMDS was dosed stepwise by using a glass syringe. First spectra in the proton and fluorine domain were recorded online using a flowrate of 3.5 mL min–1 and a simple 5 mm polytetrafluoroethylene tube (PTFE) as a flow cell.
Online low-field NMR spectroscopy of an industrial lithiation reaction step for process control
(2016)
Online monitoring and process control requires fast and noninvasive analytical methods, which are able to monitor the concentration of reactants in multicomponent mixtures with parts-per-million resolution. Online NMR spectroscopy can meet these demands when flow probes are directly coupled to reactors, since this method features a high linearity between absolute signal area and sample concentration, which makes it an absolute analytical comparison method being independent on the matrix. Due to improved magnet design and field shimming strategies portable and robust instruments have been introduced to the market by several manufacturers during the last few years. First studies with this technology showed promising results to monitor chemical reaction in the laboratory.
Within the project CONSENS, the continuous production of high-value products in small production scale is advanced by introducing benchtop NMR spectroscopy. CONSENS is a research and innovation project on integrated control and sensing for sustainable operation of flexible intensified processes.
This poster will present the first steps of the process integration of a benchtop NMR instrument for a lithiation process and outlines further fields of activity and potential challenges. Hereby, the following issues are going to be addressed: explosion-proof housing for the spectrometer, automation of signal processing (data pretreatment, evaluation and communication to the control system), flow cells and measuring conditions. Furthermore, first online spectra of the lithiation reaction in batch mode were acquired in lab scale. The reaction was performed in a 25 mL glass reactor with thermal jackets for temperature control of the reaction mixture. The Li-HMDS was dosed stepwise by using a glass syringe. First spectra in the proton and fluorine domain were recorded online using a flowrate of 3.5 mL min–1 and a simple 5 mm polytetrafluoroethylene tube (PTFE) as a flow cell.
Monitoring chemical reactions is the key to chemical process control. Today, mainly optical online methods are applied. NMR spectroscopy has a high potential for direct loop process control. Compact NMR instruments based on permanent magnets are robust and relatively inexpensive analysers, which feature advantages like low cost, low maintenance, ease of use, and cryogen-free operation. Instruments for online NMR measurements equipped with a flow-through cell, possessing a good signal-to-noise-ratio, sufficient robustness, and meeting the requirements for integration into industrial plants (i.e., explosion safety and fully automated data analysis) are currently not available off the rack.
Intensified continuous processes are in focus of current research. Flexible (modular) chemical plants can produce different products using the same equipment with short down-times between campaigns and quick introduction of new products to the market. In continuous flow processes online sensor data and tight closed-loop control of the product quality are mandatory. If these are not available, there is a huge risk of producing large amounts of out-of-spec (OOS) products. This is addressed in the European Union’s Research Project CONSENS (Integrated Control and Sensing [3]) by development and integration of smart sensor modules for process monitoring and control within such modular plant setups.
The presented NMR module is provided in an explosion proof housing of 57 x 57 x 85 cm module size and involves a compact 43.5 MHz NMR spectrometer together with an acquisition unit and a programmable logic controller for automated data preparation (phasing, baseline correction) and evaluation. Indirect Hard Modeling (IHM) was selected for data analysis of the low-field NMR spectra. A set-up for monitoring continuous reactions in a thermostated 1/8” tubular reactor using automated syringe pumps was used to validate the IHM models by using high-field NMR spectroscopy as analytical reference method.
Currently, research in chemical manufacturing moves towards flexible plug-and-play approaches focusing on modular plants, capable of producing small scales on-demand with short down-times between individual campaigns. This approach allows for efficient use of hardware, a faster optimization of the process conditions, and thus, an accelerated introduction of new products to the market. Driven mostly by the search for chemical syntheses under biocompatible conditions, so-called “click” chemistry rapidly became a growing field of research. The resulting simple one-pot reactions are so far only scarcely accompanied by an adequate optimization via comparably straightforward and robust analysis techniques. Here we report on a fast and reliable calibration-free online high field NMR monitoring approach for technical mixtures. It combines a versatile fluidic system, continuous-flow measurement with a time interval of 20 s per spectrum, and a robust, automated algorithm to interpret the obtained data. All spectra were acquired using a 500 MHz NMR spectrometer (Varian) with a dual band flow probe having a 1/16-inch polymer tubing working as a flow cell. Single scan 1H NMR spectra were recorded with an acquisition time of 5 s, relaxation delay of 15 s. As a proof-of-concept, the thiol-ene coupling between N-boc cysteine methyl ester and allyl alcohol was conducted in non-deuterated solvents while its time-resolved behaviour was characterised with step tracer experiments. Through the application of spectral modeling the signal area for each reactant can be deconvoluted in the online spectra and thus converted to the respective concentrations or molar ratios. The signals which were suitable for direct integration were used herein for comparison purposes of both methods.
Berichtet wird über die automatisierte und spektral-modellgestützte Datenauswertung quantitativer Online-NMR-Spektren von technischen Systemen, die einen grundlegenden Beitrag zum Thematik Smart Sensors im Sinne kalibrierarmer bzw. kalibrierfreier Verfahren liefern.
Die quantitative Online-NMR-Spektroskopie ist besonders reizvoll für diese Thematik: Sie kommt durch den direkten Nachweis der Kernspins ohne Kalibrierung aus und arbeitet auch in Konzentrationsrandbereichen äußerst linear. Als „absolute Vergleichsmethode“ (direkte Proportionalität der Signale zu den Stoffmengen innerhalb eines Spektrums) ist die NMR-Spektroskopie für die durchgeführten Grundlagenuntersuchungen im Zusammenhang mit spektralen Modellen prädestiniert.
Ugly spectra and lousy interfaces – challenges for compact NMR spectroscopy in process control
(2016)
With the introduction of advanced process analytical technology, the closeness of key process variables to their limits can be directly controlled and the product can be classified or even released in real time.
Compact NMR instruments can make NMR spectroscopy accessible in industrial and harsh environments for process control.
Ugly Spectra and Lousy interfaces – Challenges for Compact NMR Spectroscopy in Process Control
(2016)
With the introduction of advanced process analytical technology, the closeness of key process variables to their limits can be directly controlled and the product can be classified or even released in real time.
Compact NMR instruments can make NMR spectroscopy accessible in industrial and harsh environments for process control.
Ugly Spectra and Lousy interfaces – Challenges for Compact NMR Spectroscopy in Process Control
(2016)
With the introduction of advanced process analytical technology, the closeness of key process variables to their limits can be directly controlled and the product can be classified or even released in real time.
Compact NMR instruments can make NMR spectroscopy accessible in industrial and harsh environments for process control.
Online monitoring and process control requires fast and noninvasive analytical methods, which are able to monitor the concentration of reactants in multicomponent mixtures with parts-per-million resolution. Online NMR spectroscopy can meet these demands when flow probes are directly coupled to reactors, since this method features a high linearity between absolute signal area and sample concentration, which makes it an absolute analytical comparison method being independent on the matrix. Due to improved magnet design and field shimming strategies portable and robust instruments have been introduced to the market by several manufacturers during the last few years. First studies with this technology showed promising results to monitor chemical reaction in the laboratory.
Within the project CONSENS, the continuous production of high-value products in small production scale is advanced by introducing MR-NMR spectroscopy. CONSENS is a research and innovation project on integrated control and sensing for sustainable operation of flexible intensified processes.
This poster will present the first steps of the process integration of a benchtop NMR instrument for a lithiation process and outlines further fields of activity and potential challenges. Hereby, the following issues are going to be addressed: explosion-proof housing for the spectrometer, automation of signal processing (data pretreatment, evaluation and communication to the control system), flow cells and measuring conditions. Additionally, the first results of the lithiation reaction in lab scale regarding the pure components and reaction mixtures are going to be discussed.
Online monitoring and process control requires fast and noninvasive analytical methods, which are able to monitor the concentration of reactants in multicomponent mixtures with parts-per-million resolution. Online NMR spectroscopy can meet these demands when flow probes are directly coupled to reactors, since this method features a high linearity between absolute signal area and sample concentration, which makes it an absolute analytical comparison method being independent on the matrix. Due to improved magnet design and field shimming strategies portable and robust instruments have been introduced to the market by several manufacturers during the last few years. First studies with this technology showed promising results to monitor chemical reaction in the laboratory.
Within the project CONSENS, the continuous production of high-value products in small production scale is advanced by introducing MR-NMR spectroscopy. CONSENS is a research and innovation project on integrated control and sensing for sustainable operation of flexible intensified processes.
This poster will present the first steps of the process integration of a benchtop NMR instrument for a lithiation process and outlines further fields of activity and potential challenges. Hereby, the following issues are going to be addressed: explosion-proof housing for the spectrometer, automation of signal processing (data pretreatment, evaluation and communication to the control system), flow cells and measuring conditions. Additionally, the first results of the lithiation reaction in lab scale regarding the pure components and reaction mixtures are going to be discussed.
Trialkoxysilane haben sich in den vergangenen Jahren als vielseitig einsetzbare Organosilane erwiesen. Die Einsatzgebiete erstrecken sich vom Witterungsschutz von Bauwerken über haftvermittelnde Eigenschaften in der Glasfaserindustrie, bei Dicht- und Klebstoffen, in Farben und Lacken bis hin zur Modifizierung von polymeren Werkstoffen.
Kommerzielle Benchtop-NMR-Spektrometer haben das Potential auch im Bereich der Silanchemie als Online-Methode zur Reaktionsüberwachung und für die Qualitätskontrolle eingesetzt zu werden. Interessante NMR-Kerne für die oben genanntem Produkte sind 1H und 29Si. In einer gemeinsamen Forschungskooperation zwischen EVONIK und BAM wurde anhand verschiedener Fallstudien die Anwendbarkeit der Niederfeld-NMR-Spektroskopie zur chemischen Analyse von Silanen evaluiert. Im Zuge der Fallstudien wurde gezeigt, wie Niederfeld-NMR-Spektroskopie die Möglichkeiten der Konzentrationsmessung auf neue Anwendungsgebiete erweitert, in denen bestehende Technologien wie z. B. NIR, Raman, UV/VIS, etc. mangels Referenzdaten nicht quantitativ eingesetzt werden können.
Fallstudie 1: Oligomerisierung
Eine Fallstudie setzte dazu an, den Hydrolyse- und Kondensationsverlauf mit einer geeigneten Online-NMR-Analytik zu beobachten, den Reaktionsfortschritt der Hydrolyse und Kondensation auf dieser Basis besser zu verstehen und zu optimieren. Zu diesem Zweck werden durch Zugabe von Wasser zunächst die Alkoxysubstituenten eines Trialkoxysilans hydrolysiert und entsprechende Silanole gebildet. Diese können dann über eine SiOH-Funktion an den zu modifizierenden Werkstoff anbinden und über weitere Silanolgruppen unter Ausbildung von Siloxaneinheiten vernetzen.
Fallstudie 2: Spaltung von cyclischen Silanverbindungen
In einer weiteren Fallstudie wurde die Kinetik der Aufspaltungen einer cyclischen Silanverbindung untersucht. Die Online-NMR-Analytik kam hierbei sowohl im Labor als auch in der industriellen Produktionsanlage zum Einsatz. Hierfür wurde eine vollständig automatisierte Einhausung verwendet, welche den Einsatz eines kommerziellen NMR-Spektrometers in explosionsgeschützten Bereichen ermöglicht.
Fallstudie 3: Qualitätskontrolle für Produktmischungen von Trialkoxysilanen
Für Produktmischungen eines Trialkoxysilans und weiteren Bestandteilen wie u. a. org. Stabilisatoren, Organozinnverbindungen, eines aromatischen Amins und org. Peroxide wurden quantitative 1H-Spektren akquiriert und eine automatische Auswertungsmethode basierend auf Indirect Hard Modeling (IHM) entwickelt. Für die Nebenkomponenten, deren Stoffmengenanteile bis zu 3 Mol-% betragen, wurden durch die zugrunde gelegte Methode typischerweise korrekte experimentelle Stoffmengenanteile gefunden, die weniger als 0,2 Mol-% vom Referenzwert abweichen.
Die Geräteentwicklungen im Bereich der Niederfeld-NMR-Spektroskopie im vergangenen Jahrzehnt ermöglichen den Einsatz kompakter, portabler Magnete mit geringen Streufeldern in Laborumgebungen und industriellen Produktionsanlagen. Somit werden neue Möglichkeiten für hochauflösende NMR-Experimente zur Reaktionsüberwachung eröffnet. Im Rahmen des EU-Projekts CONSENS wurden die Möglichkeiten dieser Methode umfassend anhand einer technisch bedeutenden Reaktion (elektrophile aromatische Substitutionsreaktionen) evaluiert.
Um die Flexibilität einer kontinuierlichen und modularen Pilotanlage durch Echtzeit- Qualitätskontrolle zu fördern, wurde ein vollständig automatisiertes Online- NMR-Modul entwickelt. Der Einsatz eines kommerziellen Niederfeld-NMR-Geräts im industriellen Umfeld wurde durch die entwickelten Lösungen der automatisierten Datenanlyse sowie durch ein zertifiziertes Sicherheitskonzept für den Betrieb in explosionsgefährdeten Zonen ermöglicht. Neben der Überwachung der Produktqualität wurden Online-NMR-Daten in einem neuen iterativen Optimierungsansatz zur Maximierung des Anlagenertrags eingesetzt und dienten als zuverlässige Referenz für die Kalibrierung eines Nahinfrarot-Spektrometers.
Für die Entwicklung einer robusten Datenauswertung der NMR-Spektren, die dem Anspruch der Flexibilität bei Produktwechseln genügt, wurden zunächst Versuche im Labormaßstab durchgeführt, um eine Datenbasis zu schaffen. In diesen Versuchen wurden die aromatischen Amine Anilin, p-Toluidin und p-Fluoranilin mit o-Fluornitrobenzol gekoppelt. Durch Zugabe einer Organolithium-Verbindung (Li- HMDS) findet ein Protonenaustausch zwischen dem primären Amin und Li-HMDS statt. Dies führt zu einer hohen Reaktionsenthalpie und instabilen Aryllithium-Verbindungen. Die Reaktionen wurden hinsichtlich anfallender Zwischenprodukte mittels Hochfeld-NMR-Spektroskopie analysiert.
Nachfolgend wurden die Reaktionen sowohl im Semi-Batch-Verfahren als auch im kontinuierlichen Laborbetrieb mit Online-Niederfeld-NMR-Spektroskopie und Online- Hochfeld-NMR-Spektroskopie untersucht. Da die gemessenen NMR-Spektren besonders im aromatischen Spektralbereich hohe Signalüberlappungen der Reaktanden aufweisen, wurden chemometrische Modelle entwickelt und anhand der Hochfeld-NMR-Methode validiert. Die verwendeten Durchflusszellen für die Niederfeld-NMR-Spektroskopie wurden hinsichtlich ihrer Anwendbarkeit für quantitative Messungen im kontinuierlichen Durchfluss untersucht. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass Messungen mit einer additiv gefertigten Keramikdurchflusszelle prinzipiell möglich sind.
Data set of low-field NMR spectra of continuous synthesis of nitro-4’-methyldiphenylamine (MNDPA). 1H spectra (43 MHz) were recorded as single scans.
Two different approaches for the generation of artificial neural networks training data for the prediction of reactant concentrations were used: (i) Training data based on combinations of measured pure component spectra and (ii) Training data based on a spectral model.
Synthetic low-field NMR spectra
First 4 columns in MAT-files represent component areas of each reactant within the synthetic mixture spectrum.
Xi (“pure component spectra dataset”)
Xii (“spectral model dataset”)
Experimental low-field NMR spectra from MNDPA-Synthesis
This data set represents low-field NMR-spectra recorded during continuous synthesis of nitro-4’-methyldiphenylamine (MNDPA). Reference values from high-field NMR results are included.
Mass Spectrometry (MS) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) are critical components of every industrial chemical process as they provide information on the concentrations of individual compounds and by-products. These processes are carried out manually and by a specialist, which takes a substantial amount of time and prevents their utilization for real-time closed-loop process control. This paper presents recent advances from two projects that use Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) to address the challenges of automation and performance-efficient realizations of MS and NMR. In the first part, a complete toolchain has been developed to develop simulated spectra and train ANNs to identify compounds in MS. In the second part, a limited number of experimental NMR spectra have been augmented by simulated spectra to train an ANN with better prediction performance and speed than state-of-theart analysis. These results suggest that, in the context of the digital transformation of the process industry, we are now on the threshold of a possible strongly simplified use of MS and MRS and the accompanying data evaluation by machine-supported procedures, and can utilize both methods much wider for reaction and process monitoring or quality control.
The departure from the current automation landscape to next generation automation concepts for the process industry has already begun. Smart functions of sensors simplify their use and enable plug-and-play integration, even though they may appear to be more complex at first sight. Monitoring specific information (i.e., “chemical” such as physico-chemical properties, chemical reactions, etc.) is the key to “chemical” process control. Here we introduce our smart online NMR sensor module used for process characterisation and optimisation.
Due to NMR spectroscopy as an “absolute analytical comparison method”, independent of the matrix, it runs with extremely short set-up times in combination with “modular” spectral models. Such models can simply be built upon pure component NMR spectra within a few hours (i.e., assignment of the NMR signals to the components) instead of tedious calibrations runs. We present a range of approaches for the automated spectra analysis moving from statistical approach, (i.e., Partial Least Squares Regression) to physically motivated spectral models (i.e., Indirect Hard Modelling and Quantum Mechanical calculations).
Based on concentration measurements of reagents and products by online NMR spectroscopy a continuous production and direct loop process control were successfully realized for several validation runs in a modular industrial pilot plant and compared to conventional analytical methods (HPLC, near infrared spectroscopy). The NMR module was developed for an intensified industrial process funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (“Integrated CONtrol and SENsing”, www.consens-spire.eu).