Chemical reactivity assessments in R&D

Area of Science:

• Chemical Engineering
• Process Safety
• Organic Synthesis

Background:

• Reactive chemical hazard evaluation is standard at pilot and manufacturing scales.
• R&D scale hazard assessment faces unique challenges: limited sample quantity, time constraints, and high costs.
• New molecule synthesis in R&D is rapid, often producing small quantities, increasing risks of unexpected reactivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a staged approach for chemical reactivity hazard evaluation and assessment tailored for R&D environments.
• To outline initial R&D hazard evaluation phases utilizing open literature data.
• To guide the determination of when additional assessments are necessary based on initial reviews.

Main Methods:

• Literature review for initial hazard identification.
• Staged assessment approach for R&D chemical reactivity hazards.
• Analysis of potential hazards in planned R&D syntheses.

Main Results:

• A practical, staged methodology for R&D reactive hazard assessment is proposed.
• The approach prioritizes early identification of potential synthesis risks.
• Criteria for escalating to more detailed hazard assessments are indicated.

Conclusions:

• A proactive, staged hazard evaluation is feasible and crucial for R&D chemical synthesis.
• Utilizing open literature data provides a cost-effective initial screening.
• This approach enhances safety by identifying potential reactivity hazards before scale-up.