Catalytic Hydrogenation

RBL has been involved in commercial scale catalytic hydrogenation for over 50 years since the company began manufacture of piperidine from pyridine for the penicillin market. Today, our production site houses an extensive array of specially designed autoclaves from development to commercial scale, many of which incorporate the latest software controlled operating systems.

Manufacturing Capability:

• Capacity range from 900litre to 2250litres in glass-lined, steel and stainless steel production scale autoclaves
• Further range of development scale autoclaves giving capacity from 100ml to 150litres in stainless steel and hastelloy vessels
• Commercial manufacture up to 70bar and 200°C
• Full range of catalysts used: Pd, Pt, Ni, Co, Ru, Rh
• Autoclaves are linked to flexible multi-purpose reactor arrays for product work-up and isolation, having segregated solids handling units - enclosed filter driers and laminar flow booths

Key Technologies:

• Chiral hydrogenation - development to commercial scale
• Reduction of natural raw materials - production of intermediates and additives for Food & Beverage market
• Reductive Amination - range of products made from reaction of benzaldehyde with primary and secondary amines