Abstract
ABSTRACT
Waste reduction can be effected by reducing the quantities of each reagent in a chemical process to the lowest acceptable minimum level. This is achievable if one can establish in the laboratory the precise needs of the reaction chemistry for each reagent. This is illustrated for the conversion of a sulfonic acid to its sulfonyl chloride using chemical reaction kinetic data and HPLC analysis. Reagent minimization and thereby waste stream minimization was effected with the only expense being that of a longer reaction time. The key elements of (1) understanding process chemistry, (2) demonstrating process workability via lab and pilot-scale production and (3) implemention of full-scale production are described.
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