Process research, functions

Product innovation absorbs considerable resources in the fine chemicals industry, in part because of the shorter life cycles of fine chemicals as compared to commodities. Consequently, research and development (R D) plays an important role. The main task of R D in fine chemicals is scaling-up lab processes, as described, eg, in the ORAC data bank or as provided by the customers, so that the processes can be transferred to pilot plants (see Pilot PLANTS AND microplants) and subsequently to industrial-scale production. Thus the R D department of a fine chemicals manufacturer typically is divided into a laboratory or process research section and a development section, the latter absorbing the Hon s share of the R D budget, which typically accounts for 5 to 10% of sales. Support functions include the analytical services, engineering, maintenance, and Hbrary. 

While it has been known for many years that the N-terminal presequence is sufficient to promote mitochondrial targeting and assembly, the subsequent interaction of the precursor molecule with the outer mitochondrial membrane and the uptake of the protein is still an area of active research. There seems little doubt, however, that there are proteins on the outer mitochondrial membrane which are required for the import process. The function of these proteins is uncertain, but they may act as receptors with the subsequent transfer through the membrane at proteinous pores located at contact sites between the inner and outer membranes. Several proteins have been identified which seem to play an important role as either receptor proteins or part of the import channel (Pfanner et al., 1991). Again, not all proteins seem to depend on this mechanism. Cytochrome c, which is loosely associated with the outer aspect of the inner mitochondrial membrane, can cross... 

Barbaras, D., Brozio, J., Johannsen, I. and Allmendinger, T. (2009) Removal of heavy metals from organic reaction mixtures preparation and application of functionalized resins. Organic Process Research SI Development, 13 (6), 1068-1079. 

The expected contribution of catalysis in this area will derive both from the availability, at low processing costs, of new monomers obtained from biomasses and from the development of an optimized combination of biotechnology processes with classical and new biocatalytic processes. Research priorities for catalysis in the area of polymers from renewable materials for packaging, furniture, domestic water purification and recycling include the need to develop novel catalysts, e.g., for functionalization of polymeric and dendrimeric materials, with side-chain photoactive molecular switches (to be used as smart materials), or the development of multifunctional materials, combining, for example, nanofiltration with catalytic reactivity. 

Tybirk et al. (2004) state that organic farming systems seem to be an appropriate tool for planners to balance conservation and production, but the philosophy behind the more biodiversity the better requires a deeper discussion. Many researchers have claimed that processes and functional groups of organisms are more important for ecosystem function than just maximising the diversity (e.g. Kareiva 1994, Tilmann 1997, Hodgson et al. 1998). 

Each of the broad, functional areas described later has its own safety responsibilities and is organized to meet those responsibilities. For example, the research function is responsible for safety and loss prevention in research laboratories and pilot plants. However, research also has the duty of identifying potential hazards in the products and processes it develops. The research owner must then assure that those hazards are communicated effectively to the engineering, operating, and marketing people who must deal with them. 

Other organizational groups are essential to safe and efficient operations. However, except for line management, other functional groups are assigned specific areas of responsibility such as product or process research, engineering, technical service, industrial health, environmental services, analytical development, safety and loss prevention, security, and so on. 

One of the most difficult tasks was to create the operating structure to enable the organization to work as seamlessly as possible. In my time leading the organization, the Process Research and the Biotransformations functions in Figure 4 were in laboratories adjacent to those of the Discovery Research scientists laboratories. Research s laboratories were nearly three miles away from the pilot plant/production site where all other functions, except the Swiss operation, were situated. The Swiss operation based near Luzern overcame their distance away from the core site by virtue of frequent interactions through their key personnel, all outstanding people (see Chapter 2). 

Our Development Laboratories, Part of our worldwide R D function, are now looking for Synthetic Organic Chemists to join our Process research Group in Hoddleston, Hertfordshire. This department is responsible for devising new synthetic routes to pharmacologically active compounds and the supply of bulk drug for clinical trials and safety assessment studies. 

Processes and functional requirements must be reviewed before issue to the design consultant. The objective of the review, or in some cases multiple reviews, shall be to ensure that processes and functions have been completely and accurately defined, and that performance criteria are unambiguous. Reviews must also determine the consequence of function failure that is, the risk to the research study, manufacturing process, and safety and regulatory compliance. These consequences must be documented so that the delivered solution is appropriate to the business risk, i.e., the design must be relevant to the operating context of the asset. 

In the exploratory phases of product and process research and development, generally little or limited data are available for model parameterization. However, chemists and engineers need to evaluate a multitude of possible molecular or process variations. Rather than high accuracy, successful evaluation depends on the ability to discard the least viable options and select better options for further detailed studies. Estimation methods that give reliable results for new or unknown species are required. The well-known group-contribution methods, like UNIFAC, have demonstrated their value in cases where the molecules can be decomposed to functional groups for which parameters are already available. 

Based on careful analysis of mutant phenotypes associated with a particular cellular process, researchers often can deduce the order In which a set of genes and their protein products function. Two general types of processes are amenable to such analysis (a) biosynthetic pathways In which a precursor material Is converted via one or more Intermediates to a final product and (b) signaling pathways that regulate other processes and Involve the flow of Information rather than chemical Intermediates. 

It is beneficial for the early phase process development personnel to learn what type of information is needed by the later development phase engineers. There are additional benefits when the engineers become familiar with the capabilities of the discovery research and the early process development functions to gather data. 

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