PHOTOCHEMISTRY

At Orbiton, we approach molecule creation with a unique perspective, emphasizing greenness and sustainability by shortening synthetic routes. One of the key technologies we utilize for this purpose is photochemistry. Photochemistry involves the chemical reactions of atoms or molecules that are electronically excited by absorbing light of the appropriate wavelength. In certain cases, the desired reactions are enhanced through the use of sensitizers or photoredox catalysis. We employ photochemistry (often combined with flow chemistry) for synthesizing pharmaceutical intermediates and fine chemicals. These photochemical reactions, known for their speed and selectivity, can significantly reduce costs and, most importantly, are environmentally sustainable.

To address the Lambert-Beer law, which states that light intensity decreases exponentially with the path length, and to avoid unwanted light absorption by interfaces, we have selected a falling film photo reactor setup. This setup uses either a medium or high-pressure mercury lamp or the recently improved monochromatic LED lamps. The falling film setup ensures sufficient mass transfer through gravity, allowing for a higher photon flux.