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Fine bubble synthesis technology that does not require a pressure vessel

Fine bubble is a generic term for "ultrafine bubbles (UFB)", which are bubbles with a diameter of less than 1 μm, and "microbubbles (MB)", which are bubbles with a diameter of 1 μm or more and less than 100 μm.
Fine bubbles, whose size has been reduced to the nano- or micro-order in this way, exhibit characteristics different from the millimeter-order bubbles we usually see.

In conventional gas-liquid reactions, it was common practice to carry out the reaction under high temperature and high pressure using a pressure vessel with vigorous stirring in order to maintain a high dissolved gas concentration and high reactivity. However, in modern times—where not only efficiency but also safety and a reduction in environmental impact are demanded—improvements to conventional methods are strongly desired. By creating "fine bubbles" with optimal reaction conditions for various gas components, we have successfully developed a gas-liquid reaction process that operates under normal temperature and pressure and requires no pressure vessel.

Flow reaction technology, which is important for green manufacturing

Chemical manufacturing processes are broadly classified into batch and flow types.
A batch process is a method in which the required raw materials are charged into a reaction vessel, and after the reaction is completed, the product is extracted, isolated, and purified. Currently, most chemicals are synthesized by repeating this batch process.
However, since this batch process involves isolation and purification steps of intermediate products in every reaction, it is often a method with low production efficiency and a large environmental impact, and there is a strong demand for an alternative.
On the other hand, flow reactions do not require reaction vessels like those used in batch processes; instead, raw materials are continuously fed in one direction through microscopic channels, carrying out reactions all the way to the final product without the need for isolation or purification. Such flow reactions have the following features, and a shift from batch processes to flow systems is anticipated in the production of various chemicals.

Examples of expected reactions to the introduction

Supporting flow reaction technology
"Microwaves" and "Reaction Condition Optimization Program"

While flow synthesis has various characteristics compared to batch synthesis, it is said to be difficult to introduce into complex reaction processes such as fine chemicals.

Therefore, to enable flow processing even for complex reaction steps such as those in fine chemicals, we are working on equivalent reactions of target molecules and the reduction of reaction steps through rapid and regioselective heating utilizing microwaves (semiconductor element oscillators).
We are also working on improving yields (and purity) through reaction condition optimization programs that utilize inline analysis and machine learning.

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