On 25^th June 2019, the LIFE- Trialkyl team organized the Final Conference of the Project. The event was organized in Federchimica’s Auditorium, Milan.

The main aim of the event was to share with stakeholders and competent authorities the activities done in the last 4 years, showing the technical results obtained.

The LIFE-Trialkyl technological innovation consists in the use of a prototype of a continuous software monitored process cycle based on PCl₃ and alcohols. It is an alternative to the current production processes, based mainly on tertiary amines and phenyl derivatives, for the production of trialkylphosphites, with particular attention to trimethylphosphite. The criticalities concern the technological development of a known but not yet industrialized synthesis, limiting the formation of by-products while safeguarding the economic and environmental sustainability of the process.

LIFE-Trialkyl Project overcame such limitations after years of research, by developing an industrial production concept characterized by:

• use of anhydrous ammonia;
• well controlled in real time process parameters;
• temperature monitoring;
• multiple input cells to a one-stage reactor.

The Final Conference was also an opportunity to present the environmental benefits, the new market scenarios and the socio-economic impact coming from the LIFE-Trialkyl Project.

First results showed an increasing efficiency towards the expected process indicators in terms of reaction yield, purity, energy consumption, waste reduction and water saving. In particular:

• water management: 100% water consumption saving and 100% waste water saving;
• energy consumption: 20-30% energy reduction;
• typology of intermediates and by-products;
• safer chemical processes.

The production in Europe of TMPi will allow:

• the generation of a social care chemical industrial product, making phenol-free and more sustainable products;
• the reduction of long-distance transport by avoiding importation from Asia;
• the EU regained leadership in the chemical additives segment;
• the enhancement of circular economy in the chemical industry

The event was opened by Nicoletta Fascetti Leon, from Italian Ministry for the Environment Land and Sea, who presented Italian initiatives linked to the Sustainable Development and Environmental footprint.

Alessandro Spagni, a representative of ENEA and Director of the Technology Cluster in the new born Italian Sustainable Phosphorus Platform, presented the state of the art of technologies and best practices for P recovery and P uses.

Then, take the floor Ludwig Hermann, the President of the European Phosphorus Platform who spoke about the state of the art of the Sustainable Phosphorus use in Europe and the global challenges that we need to deal with.

At the end of the event, Carlos Galeano, Phos4ever, gave a short look on the Phosphorus world, its use and its applications with a special focus on the Industrial application.

The final conference was moderated by Alessandro Gobbi, from ICP magazine and coordinated by Maria Cristina Pasi, Project Life Trialkyl Coordinator. Presentations and photos of the day are available here