Flow Chemistry from the Vantage Point of Sustainability on Earth and Outer Space
Volker Hessel
The University of Adelaide
Microfluidics (flow chemistry) is considered as key technology for space chemistry applications, and the frontier vantage point of space can help us to design better chemical processes for Earth. This presentation gives overview of respective challenges and opportunities, on the backdrop of research carried out in the ARC Centre of Excellence Plants for Space (P4S).
Technology disruption can be a solution to a major societal or environmental challenge, to transform industries and redefine circularity. Microreactors have notably intensified mass and heat transfer and allowed safe operation in formerly explosive regimes. This was not enough to break through to chemical industry. Their expansion in process capability towards Novel Process Windows (NPW) was instrumental to widen their use in chemistry to what is known today as flow chemistry. Key use of flow chemistry opportunities in main applications will be shown, including pharmaceutical synthesis, mining, biomass value generation, fertiliser manufacturing, and e-waste recycling.
Space experimentation is the ultimate disruptive barrier and modern playground for out-of-box thinking. Flow chemistry has been used for asteroid mineral processing, phosphate/potassium leaching out of moon crust, nanoemulsions for astronaut designer beverages and space medicines, and more.
The presentation will then overview (i) what sustainability assessments can deliver to guide flow chemistry towards industrial use, (ii) which types of sustainability assessment are at hand, and (iii) exemplify the potential of sustainability assessments at key examples. We translated the principles of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), guiding investments for today’s companies, to evaluate a potential business of frontier technologies not yet at market.
The vantage point of these space innovations is redirected to Earth. Using the developed methodologies, microfluidic extraction has been applied for South Australian and Northern Territory mine samples for sustainable mining reconciliation. A new recovery process has been developed for toxic waste removal via Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) by microfluidic extraction with natural deep eutectic solvents.
Keywords: Flow Chemistry, Sustainability, Space