NMR As Process Analytical Technology: Why Hasn't It Happened Yet?
Process analytical technology (PAT) is a useful tool for optimizing, analyzing, and controlling chemical processes. PAT helps to improve the manufacturing process overall by preventing manufacturing errors, reducing the risk of variability in chemical processes, and monitoring for byproduct formation. PAT also increases the efficiency of the manufacturing process, reduces environmental impact, improves production safety, and reduces costs.
NMR spectrometers could potentially be used as PAT. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is one of the top analytical methods and one of the most useful in modern chemistry. NMR spectroscopy is able to deliver data frequently and efficiently and it doesn't need calibration.
That said, why haven't NMR spectrometers been included as a process analytical technology yet? Here we'll go into some of the reasons why NMR spectrometers have yet to be included as PAT.
High-field NMR spectrometers aren't suitable to the process environment
High-field NMR spectrometers are incredible machines that are essential to modern chemistry. But they don't have the robust, compact, and easy-to-handle construction that process analytical instruments need. PAT is typically used in harsh production environments and traditional high-field NMR spectrometers are large and highly sensitive.
Traditional NMR instruments just aren't suitable for PAT. The high procurement costs, maintenance, necessity of cryogens to generate the superconducting magnet, and the need for an expert to handle the spectrometer make using NMR for PAT inefficient.
Benchtop NMR spectrometers could have what it takes
Nanalysis uses highly homogenous cylindrical Halbach magnets, which are capable of creating an instrument with a strong magnetic field with a small enclosure. The magnet can be used above or at room temperature, which renders it maintenance-free and cryogen-free.
This low-maintenance feature makes benchtop NMR spectrometers incredibly beneficial in the process environment. What's more, using NMReady-CONNECT NMR spectrometer API, users can set up, launch, and monitor spectroscopy experiments automatically and control the instrument from outside the process line. NMReady-CONNECT makes routine maintenance simple and automated as well because NMR machine maintenance is also managed using the software.
Not only can the cylindrical Halbach of the instrument be used to implement a flow cell because of its symmetric bore but the benchtop NMR spectrometer is also compact in size, robust, and easy-to-use. This makes benchtop NMR spectrometers suitable to the process environment.
While traditional high-field NMR instruments are too large and sensitive for the process environment, the development of benchtop NMR spectrometers opens the door to using NMR as a process analytical tool. Interested in learning more about benchtop spectrometers or looking to invest in your own? Contact Nanalysis today.