As part of the development of waste-free production and green chemistry principles, researchers at Togliatti State University (TSU) have developed and patented a technology for synthesizing materials for the pharmaceutical industry. As reported on the TSU website, chemists have successfully obtained new raw materials from capron production by-products.
Raw Material Base: The Industrial Waste Problem
The foundation of the work is cyclohexanone, an organic compound used in large volumes by industry as an intermediate raw material for the synthesis of caprolactam (the basis for polyamides, nylon, and plastics). This large-scale process generates a significant amount of by-products: up to 150 kilograms of waste are produced for every ton of the target product.
The situation is complicated by the fact that cyclohexanone is prone to autocondensation: even during normal storage, it reacts with itself to form complex bicyclic structures. For a long time, most of these “companion compounds” were considered useless and were subjected to disposal.
Obtaining Raw Materials for Pharmaceuticals
A TSU research group led by Doctor of Chemical Sciences Alexander Golovanov has found a way to process this waste. The scientists discovered that after a specific chemical treatment, one of the autocondensation by-products transforms into a diatomic alcohol.
“This substance already has a potential field of application — the production of pharmaceutical products,” emphasized the head of the study, Professor Golovanov.
The development by Togliatti scientists provides Russian pharmaceutical companies with access to local raw materials. Creating such products directly at the site of industrial waste generation is an example of implementing the principles of economically efficient and environmentally friendly “green chemistry.”
Corrosion Inhibitors for Heavy Industry
In addition to pharmaceutical raw materials, the researchers patented a method for obtaining highly effective steel acid corrosion inhibitors from cyclohexanone derivatives. Laboratory tests showed that adding a few crystals of the new inhibitor to hydrochloric acid almost completely stops the metal degradation process.
This property is in demand in the oil industry: when treating wells with hydrochloric acid to clear carbonate rocks, the additive allows the acid to dissolve the required rock while leaving the steel pipes intact. The substance is also applicable for the gentle preparation of metals for painting (to dissolve rust without damaging the base material).
