SubscribeTraditionally one of the most difficult unit operations to control, crystallisation plays an enormous part in industry today, since almost all chemical processes that produce solid material utilise at least one crystallisation process, either to aid purification or control the physical form of the product.
Prosonix, however, has developed a suite of proprietary technologies that use power ultrasound to control the crystallisation process, thereby allowing the precise production of high purity organic and inorganic microcrystalline particles.
Available for commercial use and already validated across scale in ATEX environments. Prosonix' ProsonitronTM technology can be used in in-line continuous flow mode, or batch mode for in-situ generation of seed crystals, using the process liquid itself as the source for the seeds, thus overcoming one of the major limitations of classical seeded processes.
Founded earlier this year and led by David Hipkiss (CEO), Andy Bush (COO) and Dr Graham Ruecroft (CTO), the company is already looking to expand its operations and to become the world leader in the large-scale use of power ultrasound in crystallisation and chemical processing. Before Prosonix, the use of ultrasound in chemistry was considered an academic curiosity, the application of which was thought limited on account of perceived insurmountable engineering challenges.
However, by combining the expertise of both chemists and engineers, Prosonix has charted new territory in offering a range of ultrasound technologies that can help clients to bring products more rapidly to the market, improve productivity, and to enhance the quality of products themselves. Among the technologies that Prosonix are marketing are: Complete Crystallization ControlTM (see above);
CrystalGEMTM, an international award-winning predictive crystallisation technology; a new nanocrystallisation particle engineering technology called SAXTM (Solution Atomisation and Crystallisation by Sonication); and the forthcoming SonobiocatalysisTM, which will apply ultrasonics in a brand new area of focus. The technologies are relevant to a wide variety of industries, including pharmaceuticals and minerals processing.
The use of ultrasound during crystallisation Prosonix can lead to greater control of physical form, enabling pharmaceuticals companies, for example, to produce drugs for inhalation. The technology may also be used to extend the life and operational efficiency of oil platforms - as well as to improve their effect on the environment. Other possible sonochemistry and sonoprocessing applications include the food industry, environmental processing, speciality and performance chemicals and renewable energy sources.
The company, which builds upon the rapid growth and increasing success of the C3 Technology brand that Hipkiss, Bush and Ruecroft all helped to develop, has already used its licensing business model in over 30 collaborations, three commercial-scale equipment supply contracts, and eight license agreements.
As a result, revenues are expected to reach an all-time high this fiscal year (ending March 2007). A major example of the company's success has been the continuous use of Prosonix' ProsonitronTM Reactor technology at Europe's largest alumina refinery for the past 18 months. By helping to increase the productivity of alumina production, the company has gone on to conclude a second global license deal with the world's leading alumina supplier. Its first major pharmaceutical success is anticipated in Q4 2006.
The company moved into the Science Park on 1 March 2006, the culmination of several years of progress, as Hipkiss explains: "This is a major milestone for the new Prosonix team after four years of hard work in taking a hitherto academic technology to commercial scale. We look forward to delivering on the full worldwide potential of the technology over the years to come and consolidating our acknowledged position as the Experts in Sound ScienceTM."
From left to right: Andy Bush, David Hipkiss and Dr Graham Ruecroft of Prosonix