Sample interview questions: Have you ever encountered any challenges during reaction scale-up? How did you overcome them?
Sample answer:
Challenges Encountered during Reaction Scale-up
- Mass Transfer Limitations: As reaction volume increases, diffusion distances become larger, leading to reduced mass transfer rates. To overcome this, efficient mixing, solvents with higher diffusivities, and smaller particle sizes can be employed.
- Heat Transfer Limitations: Large reaction volumes can result in significant heat generation, leading to temperature gradients and potential runaway reactions. Effective temperature control measures, such as external cooling jackets or circulating coolants, are necessary.
- Impurity Formation: Side reactions and impurities can become more pronounced at larger scales due to longer reaction times and increased concentrations. Careful optimization of reaction conditions, selection of appropriate catalysts, and implementation of purification strategies are crucial to minimize impurity levels.
- Scale-Up Effects on Selectivity: Changes in reaction conditions during scale-up can affect product selectivity. Factors such as reactant ratios, catalyst concentration, and mixing efficiency can influence the selectivity of the desired reaction pathways.
- Equipment Lim… Read full answer