Neue Entwicklungen bei Anlagen und Verfahren für die Produktion von Pharmawirkstoffen

New Developments in Chemical Engineering for the Production of Drug Substances The pharmaceutical industry is moving towards a profitability gap between increasing costs and decreasing prizes. Finally management has understood that merges and acquisitions, high throughput screening and biotechnology alone will not save the companies earnings. Therefore classical approaches like the optimization of production technologies for drug substances, that might help to increase profitability, are receiving increasing attention. This paper shows how the combination of innovative components will guide the way to very efficient and cost effective production. The first component is the design and manufacturing of production facilities. The second component is a process streamlining of the production process. The key technologies discussed here are process control and mini‐plant‐technology. For these technologies a short look on future trends is taken.     

Modellierung der Trocknungsdauer für die dynamische Gefriertrocknung

During dynamic freeze drying, the dry layer is permanently rubbed off, which results in an increase in drying performance. By means of the experimental determination of the heat transfer coefficients in dependence of some process parameters (rotational frequency, loading, drying temperature), the heat transfer coefficient can be interpolated by means of the presented model and from this the drying time can be determined. Milk spheres, milk pellets and starter culture of the strain Pediococcus pentosaceus were used as model systems.     

Hochreines Monosilan für die Elektronikindustrie – Synthese,Reinigung und Charakterisierung

High-purity monosilane for the electronics industry – Synthesis, purification, characterization. Monosilane is used in the electronics industry in the production of integrated circuits and in the manufacture of amorphous silicon devices such as solar cells, photocopier drums, and flat TV screens. The first German production unit for high purity monosilane gas which came on stream in 1987 is presented. The gas produced in a molten salt process is purified to highest quality and analyzed.     

Neue Methoden der Prozeßanalysentechnik für die verfahrenstechnische Produktion

New Methods for Process Analysis in Chemical Production Processes . Process analysis provides methods and techniques for the continuous and automatic measurement of the composition of the substances handled in chemical production processes. Due to the growing automation of the processes and the necessity of on-line product quality control as well as the increasing demands on safe and environmentally compatible processing the importance of process analyzers has been steadily growing during the last years. Therefore, existing techniques of on-line analysis had to be improved, new applications have been realized and new on-line methods have been established. This paper gives some insight into these fields and illustrates trends by means of some examples.     

Verfahrensingenieure für das 21. Jahrhundert – Herausforderungen für die Hochschulausbildung

Chemical Engineers for the 21st Century – A Challenge to University Education The education of chemical engineers at the dawn of the 21st Century faces enormous challenges. The number of new students has dropped significantly since early 1990s. Globalisation is having an effect on the working environment of the engineering profession and changing the job market for process engineers whose activities now extend far beyond the chemical industry. As a result, universities and engineering schools now face increasing competition for students and scientific staff and for retention of degree programs and departments. This article throws light on the current situation of the universities, changes in working environment and conditions, and the demands placed on future chemical engineers and their education. Whatever changes may occur, e.g. through the introduction of Bachelor and Master degrees, the characteristic and proven profiles of engineering school and university training must be maintained while enhancing the conditions for good graduates.