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Optimization and Continuous Synthesis of Artemisinin Using Core-Shell Nano-Catalysts by Means of Micro-Rector

Tamtaji, Mohsen | 2021

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  1. Type of Document: Ph.D. Dissertation
  2. Language: Farsi
  3. Document No: 54754 (06)
  4. University: Sharif University of Technology
  5. Department: Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
  6. Advisor(s): Kazemeini, Mohammad
  7. Abstract:
  8. Artemisinin as a natural peroxide possess a high anti parasite, and antivirus (Covid-19) properties which could be synthesized through the photooxygenation of dihydroartemisinic acid. This production possesses a lot of difficulties, for example, homogeneous catalyst is used for the photooxygenation reaction which makes photocatalyst and solvent non-reusable. In addition, separation of products from solvent and photocatalysts is difficult. Photooxygenation needs high pressure and low temperature which is very costly. Besides, because of several by-products which are producing during photooxygenation and protonation reactions, Artemisinin yield decreases. The aim of this study is to optimize the continuous synthesis of Artemisinin using different nano-catalysts by means of a glass micro-reactor. In order to do this different nano-catalysts including polymeric nano-catalysts, silica nano-catalysts, and plasmonic and magnetic core-shell nano-catalysts were synthesized and characterized. Subsequently, a glass microreactor setup was constructed to produce Artemisinin. By using the fabricated micro-reactor and synthesized nano-catalysts, the Artemisinin production was performed at room temperature and atmospheric pressure with a very simplified process. In addition, polymeric photocatalysts leads to a high reusability in such a way that only 4% of their activity was decrease after 4 consecutive reaction cycles which is a promising number in this field. In addition, the selectivity of the polymeric nano-catalyst for the photooxygenation reaction was obtained 84%. Ultimately, using the reusable photocatalysts through the as-fabricated glass microreactor, the Artemisinin was produced by the rate of 2.4 mg/day and the yield of 43%. Besides, using homogeneous photocatalyst, the production rate of Artemisinin can be increased to 24 mg/day with the yield of 83%. Ultimately, final element method (FEM) simulation was applied to accurately predict the distribution of the 1O2 around the synthesized photocatalysts indicating a 2 µm penetration length for the 1O2 around the photocatalysts
  9. Keywords:
  10. Malaria Diease ; COVID-19 ; Microreactor ; Finite Element Simulation ; Nano Catalyst ; Artemisinin

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