Solvent-free Chemical Processes

The chemical industry is one of the largest polluters and is responsible for very high levels of energy consumption. Two of the main drivers of this problem are the use of large quantities of solvents and the high energy requirement for heating in chemical reactions. Mechanochemistry takes a radical approach. It harnesses mechanical energy to trigger chemical reactions without any solvents or heating.

At the heart of mechanochemistry are so-called ball mills – comparatively simple devices in which milling balls collide with each other. These mechanical impacts initiate chemical reactions – without any solvents or additional energy supply through heating.

Basic research for a new chemical roadmap

Despite the successes that have already been made in mechanochemistry – in particular the transfer of numerous classic reactions to the solvent-free environment of milling balls – many unanswered questions remain. Why and how mechanical energy enables chemical reactions is not yet fully understood. The Bochum-based research group will now explore these fundamental aspects using the funding from the ERC grant

The project operates at the interface of different chemical disciplines, including inorganic, organic, polymer and physical chemistry. The team will study in detail the impact of mechanical collisions on chemical processes at the microscopic and mesoscopic level and the role of temperature and mixing. Ultimately, the researchers aim to create a roadmap of mechanochemistry that shows which reactions are feasible in mechanochemical reactions and under which conditions they take place.