Volker Hessel's Biography

Volker Hessel, Professor,, The University of Adelaide

Prof. Volker Hessel studied chemistry at Mainz University/D. 1994: Institut für Mikrotechnik Mainz/Germany (Director R&D); 2005: Professor Eindhoven University of Technology/NL; 2018: Deputy Dean (Research), Professor University of Adelaide, Australia; 2019: part-time professor University of Warwick/UK.

He is author of 678 peer-reviewed publications (h-index: 90; >37,000 citations). He received the AIChE Excellence in Process Development Research Award, IUPAC ThalesNano Prize in Flow Chemistry. He is program lead in the ARC Centre of Excellence Plants for Space (P4S), and is Research Director of the Andy Thomas Centre for Space Resources. He received several EU’s research excellence grants (ERC Advanced/Proof of Concept/Synergy, FET OPEN). He is a member on the College of Experts for the National Research Foundation (NRF) within the Prime Minister’s Office”.

Microfluidic Systems based on Multi-phase Designer Solvents with Aim to Automate Purification and Recycling Reactants

Friday, 1 October 2021 at 09:45

Add to Calendar ▼2021-09-30 13:30:002021-09-30 14:30:00Europe/LondonMicrofluidic Systems for Asteroid Minerals Processing and Nanoformulation of Fortified Designer Beverages for AstronautsThe Space Summit 2021 in BostonBostonSELECTBIOenquiries@selectbiosciences.com

Novel Process Windows with their unusual, typically harsh process conditions have enlarged the processing portfolio. Recently, we have developed a biomimetic processing concept that aims to develop flexible compartments for integrated reactions in a way as organelles (vacuoles) in a cell do. The compartments are formed by self-organising media by multi-phase designer solvents. In this way, cascade reactions may be run automatically in just one reactor (ONE-FLOW), which is compartmented to the complexity needed.

The presentation will show (1) the use of solubility modelling for finding the best solvents out of a myriad of choices, (2) the performance/opportunity and problems at a model reaction with organocatalyst, (3) the performance/opportunity and problems at a model reaction with enzyme catalyst, (4) a life cycle assessment for an industrial process (3-step ibuprofen) under favourable assumptions and tailored to the idea, (5) a life cycle assessment for an industrial process (1-step or 2-step rufinamide) under reported industrial conditions and not ideally tailored to the idea, and (6) a comparison of all classes of designer solvent per life cycle assessment impact category; the latter comprises ionic liquids, scCO₂, fluorous solvents, thermomorphic solvents, and deep eutectic solvents.

Microfluidic Systems for Asteroid Minerals Processing and Nanoformulation of Fortified Designer Beverages for Astronauts

Thursday, 30 September 2021 at 13:30

Space laboratories are the ultimate disruptive barrier and the modern playground for out-of-box thinking. Space manufacturing and resource utilization is the key to human space exploration. Flow chemistry is the ideal technology for chemical manufacturing in space – it operates (even on Earth) at ‘zero-gravity’, is suited for vacuum operation, while being light-weight and ready for remote control

Two advanced microfluidic reactors - a coiled-flow inverter (CFI) and an industrial re-entrance flow reactor from Corning® were operated at high (Asteroid) metal concentrations and high nickel to cobalt ratios (3:0.3 mol/l Ni:Co). Using Cyanex 272 as a selective extractant for cobalt, extraction efficiencies of 60% with high separation factors (>1000) were reached in just one extraction stage. The CFI showed high extraction efficiency for a residence time of 60 s. The Corning® reactor performs better at higher flow rates and thus can leverage higher productivity. Finally, the meteorite Campo del Cielo, the third-largest one which ever hit Earth, was leached and extracted at maximal 87% efficiency.

We aim to develop a space beverage system that allows astronauts to adjust the beverage’s taste and nutritional value to individual likes and needs, utilizing beverage nanoemulsions to incorporate hydrophilic (micro-)nutrients and flavour components. Thereby, we can address space-specific health threats such as microgravity-related bone loss with an increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids. By using literature reported solvent/surfactanant compositions, “spontaneous emulsification” nanoemulsions (d32 ˜ 100 nm) were reliably obtained. Compared to a conventional burette setup, a microfluidic device was able to form emulsions considerably faster (time reduction by a factor of 5) and potentially more efficiently, i.e. forming emulsions with smaller droplet sizes at certain surfactant concentrations.

Add to Calendar ▼2021-09-30 00:00:002021-10-01 00:00:00Europe/LondonThe Space Summit 2021The Space Summit 2021 in BostonBostonSELECTBIOenquiries@selectbiosciences.com

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