Imperial College London professor, Claire Adjiman, recently delivered the prestigious Danckwerts Lecture at the 15th European Congress of Chemical Engineering (ECCE) in Lisbon, Portugal. Adjiman, an IChemE Fellow, described the experience as an “honour” and presented her research in molecular systems engineering for process and product design during the conference.
Adjiman’s work focuses on extending process design boundaries to include molecular or material level decisions. By leveraging computational modeling, her group aims to design chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing processes at the molecular level to enhance sustainability. She emphasized the importance of physics-based models in creating more sustainable products and processes.
Traditional process design often starts with molecular and material selection for solvents and catalysts, which can lead to unintended consequences during the overall process. Adjiman advocates for identifying materials that can work across multiple stages to improve efficiency. However, the evaluation of numerous potential molecular structures poses a significant time-consuming challenge.
Computational modeling plays a central role in Adjiman’s research, enabling exploration of designs beyond experimental capabilities. Models facilitate the removal of barriers such as material scarcity, safety concerns, or equipment limitations. Adjiman highlighted the drawbacks of using water as a “green solvent,” citing issues like poor solubility for many substances, high energy requirements for temperature changes, and costly decontamination processes.
While emphasizing the importance of experiments in generating data for model parameterization and validation, Adjiman noted their complementary role alongside models in providing unpredictable information. The Danckwerts Lecture, established in memory of Peter Danckwerts, serves as a platform for showcasing advancements in chemical engineering and process design.
The ECCE, where Adjiman delivered her lecture, accepted abstracts and papers covering various topics such as AI, circular economy, health, and applied biotechnology. This year’s event coincided with the eighth European Congress of Applied Biotechnology and the third Iberoamerican Congress on Chemical Engineering, organized by prominent chemical engineering bodies across Europe.
Adjiman’s research underscores the significance of molecular systems engineering in driving sustainable process design within the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. By integrating computational modeling with experimental data, her work offers insights into optimizing material selection and enhancing overall process efficiency.
- Claire Adjiman’s Danckwerts Lecture at ECCE highlighted the role of molecular systems engineering in sustainable process design.
- Computational modeling is a core component of Adjiman’s research, enabling exploration of molecular-level decisions beyond experimental capabilities.
- The drawbacks of conventional process design, such as suboptimal material selection and unintended consequences, underscore the need for molecular engineering approaches.
- The ECCE provided a platform for discussing advancements in chemical engineering, including topics like AI, circular economy, and applied biotechnology.
- Adjiman’s work sheds light on the importance of integrating experimental data with computational models to drive innovation in process and product design.
In conclusion, Claire Adjiman’s research in molecular systems engineering offers a glimpse into the future of sustainable process design within the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors. By leveraging computational modeling and experimental data, her work not only addresses current challenges in material selection and process efficiency but also paves the way for more sustainable and innovative practices in the industry.
Tags: pharmaceutical manufacturing
Read more on thechemicalengineer.com