Solvents

New process for the manufacturing of sertraline, the active ingredient of Zoloft®. Sertraline is traditionally manufactured through a three-step streamlined process. This process is relatively wasteful and has low efficiency. Pfizer has developed a new single-step manufacturing process with environmental and human safety improvements, high yields, and an extremely pure product. Using a new palladium catalyst reduces the use of raw materials. The process has better reagents economy and improved cost-efficiency. 

Four-step synthetic route for ibuprofen production. This company's four-step synthetic route is an alternative to the traditional six-step synthetic route. This new process has 90% atom efficiency compared to the original process with less than 40% atom efficiency. Using anhydrous hydrogen fluoride as a solvent and catalyst reduces the volume of generated waste and increases the reaction's selectivity. Anhydrous hydrogen can also be recovered and reused with 99.9% efficiency.

Improved peptide manufacturing process of etelcalcetide, the active ingredient in, Parsabiv™— a drug for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in adult patients with chronic kidney disease. This novel process reduces chemical solvent use by 71%, manufacturing operating time by 56%, and manufacturing costs by 76%. This could eliminate over 14,400 cubic meters of waste, including 750 cubic meters of aqueous waste, while increasing profits.

Bio-based solvents. These bio-based solvents serve as alternatives to petrochemical-based solvents. They are derived from agricultural crops that are rich in carbohydrates, such as corn, wheat, and beets. These carbohydrates are then purifed and fermented to make bioethanol and others alcohols and combined with esters of lactic acids and other natural acids. They also include fully biodegradable organic co-solvents. These solvets are less toxic, less flammable, and biodegradable. They also contribute less carbon emissions.

Corrosion-resistant coatings. This technology provides high corrosion resistance and improved adhesion for hot-dip galvanized steel, aluminum alloys, and other metals in a one-step process without toxic chemicals like VOCs and Haps. Traditional anti-corrosion agents contain hexavalent chromium, which is toxic to humans and the environment, and contain high molecular weight polymers that require VOCs for anti-corrosion properties. VOCs are responsible for forming ground-level ozone and particulate matter and negatively impacting human health.

Aqueous, all-acrylic emulsion polymer for ultra-low VOC interior paints. This product improves interior air quality by removing formaldehyde from recently painted commercial and residential spaces. Formaldehyde removal reduces the potential for respiratory disease development. This technology is also 100% acrylic and APEO-free. It can be used without a solvent and has low odor and high adhesion. 

Two-component (2K) waterborne polyurethane coatings. These waterborne polyurethane coatings eliminate most or all of the organic solvents used in conventional solventborne polyurethane coatings. These novel coatings reduce VOC and HAP emissions by 50 to 90%. 

EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge: 2000 Greener Reaction Conditions Award

Safer chemical processing system in the flexographic printing industry. This new system reduces the amount of solvents needed for printing, eliminates hazardous solvents, reduces explosion potential and emissions during solvent recycling, and increases worker safety. This system includes washout solvents and reclamation/recycling machinery. All solvents can be recycled in the Cold Reclaim System™, which sustainably recycles solvents through filtration and centrifugation.