NFOK13002U Process Analytical Chemistry and Technology

Process Analytical Chemistry and Technology (PACT) encompasses a combination of analytical chemistry, process engineering, process chemistry, process spectroscopy and multivariate data analysis – a true multidisciplinary field. The key aspects of PACT include advances in measurement technologies that are applicable for at-line or on-line, real-time, process analysis research or applications. The use of PACT enables one to gain a deeper understanding of the process (dairy, brewing, other food products, pharmaceuticals etc.). This in turn can lead to more consistent food products, reduced waste, improved manufacturing efficiencies, overall improvement in the use of resources, improved safety, and the reduced costs that can be garnered from each of these. Measurements can be made to give a direct indication of reaction progress or the composition of a mixture at a given time. This information about the process can be used to make changes to keep a process running within some set limits. With additional process information, and knowledge, there is the possibility of understanding the parameters that impact a process and the product quality (e.g. fat content in cheese, alcohol content in beer, water content in freeze dryed products, API in tablets).

Apart from learning scientific approaches to solving problems, the student will learn to appreciate knoxledge of: Problem definition • Process description • Identification of critical control points • Validation • Sampling • Process control • Implementation into manufacturing information systems • Handling of process data (chemometrics) • Process spectroscopy (fibers, probes etc.).

The course includes one weekly module with practicals, lectures and seminars. The practicals include small experiments where the students will apply knowledge obtained in the course. The seminars will include theoretical problems that the students are to investigate through scientific literature. The course also includes excursions to industry where PACT is performed on a daily basis.