Flow-type laboratory ozonolysis apparatus and method of performing ozonolysis reaction

Abstract

A flow-type laboratory scale ozonolysis apparatus ( 100 ) according to the invention comprises a reservoir ( 104 ), a n feed pump ( 102 ), a mixing element ( 120 ) with two inlets and an outlet, a reactor unit ( 110 ) and a pressure-adjusting means ( 160 ), all connected into a flow path. The ozonolysis apparatus ( 100 ) further comprises an ozone source ( 110 ), as well as a dispensing valve ( 112 ) transmitting a gas stream only in a single direction and installed between the ozone source ( 110 ) and one of the inlets of the mixing element ( 120 ). The feed pump ( 102 ) of the ozonolysis apparatus ( 100 ) according to the invention is a liquid pump generating a constant volume rate, the reservoir ( 104 ) contains at least the substance, as a solute, to be subjected to the ozonolysis reaction and the reactor unit consists of first and second reactor zones differing in function from one another. In the flow path, the outlet of the first reactor zone is connected to the inlet of the second reactor zone. Furthermore, an inlet for feeding in substances is inserted into the flow path between the reactor zones, and the pressure-adjusting means ( 160 ) is installed into the flow path after the reactor unit and is provided with an electrically governed control.

1 . A flow-type laboratory scale ozonolysis apparatus for performing ozonolysis reaction of a given substance, the apparatus ( 100 ) comprising a liquid reservoir ( 104 ), a feed pump ( 102 ) in the form of a liquid pump generating a constant volume flow rate, a uniting element ( 120 ) with two inlets and an outlet, a reactor unit and a pressure-adjusting means ( 160 ), all connected into a flow path, the apparatus ( 100 ) further comprising an ozone source ( 110 ) and a dispensing valve ( 112 ) transmitting a gas stream only in a single direction and being installed between the ozone source ( 110 ) and one of the inlets of the uniting element ( 120 ), wherein the pressure-adjusting means ( 160 ) is arranged after the reactor unit and is provided with an electrically governed control, characterized in that the liquid reservoir ( 104 ) contains at least the substance, as a solute, to be subjected to the ozonolysis reaction and the reactor unit consists of first and second reactor zones being different as to their function, wherein the outlet of the first reactor zone is connected to the inlet of the second reactor zone in the flow path and a substance intake is inserted into the flow path between the reactor zones, and wherein the ozone source ( 110 ) is provided as an ozone source generating ozone in-situ by electrolysis and wherein the total inner volume measured along the flow path between the feed pump ( 102 ) and the pressure adjusting means ( 160 ) is at most 50 cm 3 . 
   
   
       2 . The laboratory scale ozonolysis apparatus ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , characterized in that the reactor zones of the reactor unit are provided as physically separate first and second reactors ( 130 ,  150 ). 
   
   
       3 . The laboratory scale ozonolysis apparatus ( 100 ) of  claim 2 , characterized in that the first reactor ( 130 ) is provided with a temperature adjusting means ( 132 ) in heat transfer relation with the reactor ( 130 ). 
   
   
       4 . The laboratory scale ozonolysis apparatus ( 100 ) of  claim 2 , characterized in that the second reactor ( 150 ) is provided with a temperature adjusting means ( 152 ) in heat transfer relation with the reactor ( 150 ). 
   
   
       5 . The laboratory scale ozonolysis apparatus ( 100 ) of  claim 2 , characterized in that the substance intake is formed as a uniting element ( 140 ) with two inlets and an outlet, wherein the outlet of the first reactor ( 130 ) is connected to one of the inlets of the uniting element ( 140 ), the inlet of the second reactor ( 150 ) is connected to the outlet of the uniting element ( 140 ) and a second liquid reservoir ( 174 ) is connected to the other inlet of the uniting element ( 140 ) through a second feed pump ( 172 ), wherein the second liquid reservoir ( 174 ) contains at least an additive needed for the completion of ozonolysis reaction. 
   
   
       6 . The laboratory scale ozonolysis apparatus ( 100 ) of  claim 5 , characterized in that the first reactor ( 130 ) is provided as a microfluidic reactor ( 130 ′) having an inlet, an outlet and a reaction channel ( 325 ) for accommodating chemical reactions, the microfluidic reactor ( 130 ′) comprising a sealed reaction channel ( 325 ) prepared in the surface of a reactor sheet ( 320 ) by cold forming and sealed by a closing member ( 330 ) pressed onto said surface of the reactor sheet ( 320 ) and a temperature control unit ( 350 ) arranged in contact with a surface of the closing member ( 330 ) opposite to the reaction channel ( 325 ) and being in heat transfer relation with the reaction channel ( 325 ) through the closing member ( 330 ). 
   
   
       7 . The laboratory scale ozonolysis apparatus ( 100 ) of  claim 6 , characterized in that the uniting element ( 120 ) is formed as an integral member of the reaction channel ( 325 ). 
   
   
       8 . The laboratory scale ozonolysis apparatus ( 100 ) of  claim 6 , characterized in that the temperature adjusting means ( 132 ) is provided by the temperature control unit ( 350 ). 
   
   
       9 . The laboratory scale ozonolysis apparatus ( 100 ) of  claim 2 , characterized in that the second reactor ( 150 ) is provided as a microfluidic reactor ( 130 ′) with the same construction as that of the first reactor ( 130 ). 
   
   
       10 . The laboratory scale ozonolysis apparatus ( 100 ) of  claim 2 , characterized in that the second reactor ( 150 ) is provided as a packed column with a reactive charge, wherein the charge contains an additive needed for the completion of ozonolysis reaction. 
   
   
       11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . The laboratory scale ozonolysis apparatus ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , characterized in that the ozone source ( 110 ) is provided as at least one asymmetric pressure ozone generating electrolysis cell ( 110 ′). 
   
   
       13 . The laboratory scale ozonolysis apparatus ( 100 ) of  claim 12 , characterized in that the ozone generating electrolysis cell ( 110 ′) comprises
 a cathode ( 13 );   an anode ( 16 ) comprising a mixture of lead (IV) oxide and polytetrafluoroethylene;   a membrane ( 15 ) arranged between the cathode ( 13 ) and the anode ( 16 ); and   an electrically conducting, liquid and gas permeable first electrode support ( 17 ) in contact with a side of the anode ( 16 ) located opposite to the membrane ( 15 ), said side of the electrode support ( 17 ) having a surface covered with a platinum-containing layer, wherein the material of the anode ( 16 ) is a mixture prepared by high-pressure molding of lead (IV) oxide grains of colloid size and polytetrafluoroethylene filaments having a dimension of at most 1 mm.   
   
   
       14 . The laboratory scale ozonolysis apparatus ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , characterized in that it further comprises a central control unit ( 190 ) which is connected to the dispensing valve ( 112 ), the feed pump ( 102 ) and the pressure adjusting means ( 160 ) through appropriate electrical connections. 
   
   
       15 . The laboratory scale ozonolysis apparatus ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , characterized in that the uniting element ( 120 ) is provided with an end sheet at the inlet thereof through which ozone is fed into the flow path, said end plate having perforations to decrease the size of the ozone bubbles to be introduced. 
   
   
       16 . The laboratory scale ozonolysis apparatus ( 100 ) of  claim 3 , characterized in that the temperature adjusting means ( 132 ) of the first reactor ( 130 ) is connected with the central control unit ( 190 ) through an appropriate electrical connection. 
   
   
       17 . The laboratory scale ozonolysis apparatus ( 100 ) of  claim 4 , characterized in that the temperature adjusting means ( 152 ) of the second reactor ( 150 ) is connected with the central control unit ( 190 ) through an appropriate electrical connection. 
   
   
       18 . The laboratory scale ozonolysis apparatus ( 100 ) of  claim 16 , characterized in that it further comprises a secondary temperature adjusting means ( 185 ) which is in heat exchange relation with the temperature adjusting means ( 132 ) of the first reactor ( 130 ) and/or the temperature adjusting means ( 152 ) of the second reactor ( 150 ), and is connected with the central control unit ( 190 ) through an appropriate electrical connection. 
   
   
       19 . A laboratory scale method of performing ozonolysis reaction of a substance solved in a solvent, comprising the steps of
 (i) supplying a given amount of substance being solved to be subjected to ozonolysis reaction into a flow path by means of a feed pump ( 102 ) at a substantially constant volume rate;   (ii) feeding ozone by a dispensing valve ( 112 ) into the flow path in a section located after the substance supplying position in the form of microbubbles, said ozone being produced in-situ by electrolysis;   (iii) leading solved substance through a reactor unit comprising first and second reactor zones arranged in a section of the flow path located after the ozone feeding position;   (iv) supplying an additive needed for the completion of ozonolysis reaction into the flow path after the first reactor zone of the reactor unit;   (v) maintaining the pressure of the reaction in a given pressure range by means of a pressure adjusting means ( 160 ) arranged in the flow path after the reactor unit;   (vi) collecting the product generated in the second reactor zone of the reactor unit in a product receptacle ( 180 ) connected to the end of the flow path, wherein the total inner volume measured along said flow path, also including the volume of the reactor unit, is at most 50 cm 3 .   
   
   
       20 . The laboratory scale method of performing ozonolysis reaction according to  claim 19 , characterized in that the ozone is supplied into the flow path intermittently. 
   
   
       21 . The laboratory scale method of performing ozonolysis reaction according to  claim 19 , characterized in that the temperature of the solved substance is changed to a prescribed temperature of the reaction to be performed in the first reactor zone of the reactor unit. 
   
   
       22 . The laboratory scale method of performing ozonolysis reaction according to  claim 21 , characterized in that a reaction resulting in decomposition or stabilization of the intermediate produced by the reaction performed in the first reactor zone is carried out in the second reactor zone of the reactor unit. 
   
   
       23 . The laboratory scale method of performing ozonolysis reaction according to  claim 22 , characterized in that the temperature of the intermediate produced in the first reactor zone and the temperature of the additive supplied into the flow path are changed in the second reactor zone of the reactor unit to a prescribed temperature of the reaction to be performed in the second reactor zone of the reactor unit. 
   
   
       24 . (canceled)