Alkali nanotech

Alkali metals are widely used as reducing agents in synthetic chemistry. But reactions that use the metals can be difficult to scale up because of low reaction efficiency, low rates of reaction, and/or the complications encountered in handling such pyrophoric reagents.

There is, therefore, a real need to have alkali metals and their alloys available in forms that are simpler to use, with faster kinetics, but without a significant loss in the metal reactivity.

Now, one US company, - NY-based SiGNa Chem - has come up with a technique to nanoencapsulate alkali metals with silica gel, with the resulting effect that the powders react controllably, with different stages of predictable activation to suit industry protocols.

This technology will streamline many industrial processes from drug manufacturing to petroleum refining to environmental restoration, since the SiGNa materials can be used in chromatographic columns to create continuous-flow reactors, or as bulk reagents in batch reactions.

“Alkali metals have been used by chemists for well over 100 years,” said Michael Lefenfeld, SiGNa Chem CEO and Chief Scientific Officer. “However, their use has been limited by their pyrophoric (spontaneously combusting) qualities. We were originally developing a consumer product that would have benefited from this type of reduction reaction, but then realised that the market is much larger for a user-friendly form of the alkali metals themselves.”

"Industries that require the reduction properties of alkali metals now have an alternative to traditional multi-step processing, which will translate into major savings in costs and time. We're also excited about re-introducing the metals to research labs and manufacturers who have hesitated to use them in their systems, such as pharmaceutical manufacturers and petroleum refiners."

In addition to the functional efficiencies of alkali metal reduction reactions, the SiGNa Chem products avoid the substantial costs associated with storing and handling pyrophoric substances, including safety equipment and procedures, insurance and regulatory compliance.

Pharmaceutical manufacturing is one large-scale market for SiGNa Chem materials.

“Right now, pharma is designing multiple steps in its manufacturing processes to avoid using a single alkali reduction step, because they are apprehensive about the hazardous nature of the reagent,” Lefenfeld said. “We’re changing that mindset; some big companies are evaluating our material, and we’re very optimistic about the outcome.”

The predictable reactivity and benign nature of SiGNa’s product also makes it ideal for consumer applications. SiGNa has chosen the micro fuel cell market as an important initial target in its commercialisation efforts.

Recently it was announced that SiGNa's reduction agent products will be distributed by Sigma-Aldrich.