Photochemistry

Photochemistry

Photochemistry comprises the chemical reactions of atoms or molecules that have been electronically excited by absorption of light with the appropriate wavelength. In some cases the desired chemistry is accelerated by the use of sensitizers, or by photoredox catalysis. At plant scale one wants to convert large quantities of substrate in a safe and economic way. Considering the Lambert-Beer law (intensity of light decreases exponentially with the path length), and the non-desired absorption of light by interfaces we have chosen for a falling film photo reactor set-up using or a medium or high pressure mercury lamp and the recently drastically improved monochromatic LED lamps. With the falling film set-up sufficient mass transfer is achieved by using gravity, allowing for a higher photon flux.