Future directions for in-situ product removal (ISPR)

This paper summarizes the main findings of a round-table discussion held to examine the key bottlenecks in the further application and industrial implementation of in-situ product removal (ISPR) techniques. It is well established that ISPR can yield great benefits for processes limited by inhibitory or toxic products, as wen as unstable products or reactions that are thermodynamically unfavorable.

However, several issues for industrial implementation were revealed in the discussion. Most notably implementation will be dependent on (1) research into the appropriate process structure, (2) methods to achieve process robustness, (3) systematic selection methods for separation operations and (4) the nature of the product market.

Here, these four issues will be discussed as a basis for future work in this area.