Rotating Fluidized Bed Photochemical Reactor. Phase 1

摘要

A rotating bed photochemical reactor was designed and constructed.Photoefficiency was increased by a factor of six over conventional fluidized beds, decreasing energy costs. Entrainment of particles in the fluidizing gas, a serious problem with conventional beds using small particles such as zeolites, was eliminated. The need for quartz windows was eliminated, thereby decreasing initial construction costs. Operation was smooth and efficient with no down time due to particle contamination of moving parts. A process for production of vitamin D3 involving the photolysis of the precursor, 7-dehydrocholesterol on the surface of silica, was developed. the process improves stereocontrol of the reaction and greatly decreases the formation of undesirable isomers.