Process Analytical Technology

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Process Analytical Technology ( PAT ) is used to optimize, analyze and control manufacturing processes at the field level, such as in the chemical industry. Its aim is to increase product quality through standardized controls and the documentation of critical parameters during production (in- process controls ).

In 2002 the FDA launched an initiative of the same name for the pharmaceutical industry and is intended to provide incentives for optimizing their manufacturing processes.

This is achieved through qualitative and quantitative analysis of chemical processes during the ongoing process. Usually only the physical parameters are recorded in real time in chemical plants and used for plant control or regulation. However, if complex chemical relationships are to be observed, documented or used for control purposes in a process, chemical parameters must also be observed in real time. This task can be done by PAT systems.

The tasks of those responsible for PAT are the planning of new systems, the optimization of existing systems and the preventive and reactive maintenance of the systems.

Due to the focus on chemical processes, the term Process Analytical Chemistry (PAC) is sometimes used . Also under the title PAC, a research project funded by the Austrian FFG will be carried out from 2010 to 2014 in which data acquisition and data evaluation methods for PAT requirements will be further developed.

Measurement task and solution

With the PAT, a distinction is made between the measurement task and the PAT solution. In addition, a distinction is made between measured variables and measurement methods. A measuring method does not necessarily have to have a measured variable with which one can draw conclusions directly about the chemical process. Different methods can also be combined and offset against each other in order to arrive at a measured variable that is meaningful for the process.

A typical PAT task is to monitor wastewater from ongoing production for pollutants . This task can be done in a variety of ways, for example by determining the sum parameter of the carbon found in the water or by means of gas chromatography .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Olof Leps: The construction of operating and control systems . In: Hybrid test environments for critical infrastructures . Springer Vieweg, Wiesbaden, 2018, ISBN 978-3-658-22613-8 , pp. 25–39 , doi : 10.1007 / 978-3-658-22614-5_3 ( springer.com [accessed December 30, 2018]).
  2. ↑ PAC research project