Coupling reaction and crystallization processes

Often crystallization is used at the end of a reaction-separation process chain to finally produce the solid product. However exploiting its inherent high selectivity at an earlier stage offers advantages. For example, the direct integration of crystallization within a synthesis reaction chain can benefit from circumventing reaction equilibria constraints, increasing selectivity, simplifying downstream processing and providing the target compound straightly as a solid product with desired solid-state properties. Within the last years, several processes combining a reactive and a crystallization step were studied in our group as for example:

• Coupling of racemization and preferential crystallization for efficient production of single enantiomers,
• Coupling biocatalytic synthesis with crystallization/precipitation for enantiomer production and
• Combination of reactive absorption and crystallization for development of a novel process for carbon-negative and sustainable production of soda ash.

Current research also integrates reactive depolymerization with crystallization-based product recovery.