What is a catalyst? Why catalyst recovery is important?

Catalysts are important tools in the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients. It are used to enhance and expediate chemical reactions, and are a necessary part of pharmaceutical processing. Catalysis process not only involves using the catalyst but further involves recovery of the catalyst. Almost 90% of all chemical products undergo a catalytic process step during the production process.

Precious metal catalysts are typically supported on carriers. Carbon supports are the most common carrier media for precious metal-bearing catalysts in the pharmaceutical processing industry. The heterogenous catalyst is in the liquid phase or gas phase together with the end products and must be separated from the mixture and recycled after the reaction.

The separation and recycling of solid catalysts from liquid phases often places high demands on both the separation apparatus and the filter medium. The requirements for such a task are the following:

• separation of finest particles
• compliance with given temperature and pressure values
• aggressive media
• short residence times of the catalyst outside the reactor
• no air / gas contact of the catalyst during the separation and recycling