Continuous flow chemistry synthesis of Vitamin C

Natural health products have become integral to many personal routines and the Canadian economy as a $9 billion industry. But recent problems within China and India, which currently have a stranglehold on raw materials, are endangering the health of this growing sector. Replacing foreign sources with traditional batch production means is foolish since domestic labor costs are not competitive. By utilizing the high-tech method of production of continuous flow chemistry, we can achieve a cost-effective and competitive production method. We chose to investigate the production vitamin C since it is the most-consumed nutraceutical ingredient by mass. If successful, we can open a new paradigm of vitamin C synthesis with potentially trivial achievement of pharmaceutical-grade purity, minimal labor input and near-zero environmental impact. Furthermore, this technology can be implemented into other key vitamins and even pharmaceuticals which not only has obvious commercial implications but can contribute significantly to establishing healthcare independence.

Faculty Supervisor:

Kalindi D. Morgan;Andrea Gorrell

Student:

Partner:

EluciDx

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Northern British Columbia

Program: