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Assessing the feasibility of a sustainable purification method for separation of contrast media product and its precursor

Haugen, Kristian LU (2025) KFKM05 20251
Biophysical Chemistry
Abstract
To promote sustainable manufacturing and lower industrial emissions, GE HealthCare is
constantly assessing new approaches to improve their production processes. As a global
manufacturer of contrast media, their potential for positive societal impact is significant. In
addition to sustainability, a pharmaceutical production process is required to deliver products
of high purity. This means that the purification techniques used as part of the process must
match the overall manufacturing goals. Although multiple ways of chemical purification can
be considered as green alternatives, the method must also be possible to upscale to be
industrially viable.
The work summarized in this report is part of a larger project aiming to design a... (More)
To promote sustainable manufacturing and lower industrial emissions, GE HealthCare is
constantly assessing new approaches to improve their production processes. As a global
manufacturer of contrast media, their potential for positive societal impact is significant. In
addition to sustainability, a pharmaceutical production process is required to deliver products
of high purity. This means that the purification techniques used as part of the process must
match the overall manufacturing goals. Although multiple ways of chemical purification can
be considered as green alternatives, the method must also be possible to upscale to be
industrially viable.
The work summarized in this report is part of a larger project aiming to design a new
production process for one of GE HealthCare´s products. To evaluate the feasibility of a
separation technique, this study aims to provide an initial screening of potential operating
conditions. As one of the intermediate products in the process have many molecular
similarities to the product itself, the focus of this evaluation lied on separation of these two
molecules. The findings strengthen results from earlier experiments done by GE HealthCare,
that separation is possible, but that it could require additional adjustment of the process stream
before and after the purification step. (Less)
Popular Abstract
This degree project aims to evaluate the possibility of using a sustainable purification
technique at an industrial scale. If applicable, this could be an efficient way to separate a
contrast media product and its precursor based on their molecular differences. This would
allow for reduced emissions from one of GE HealthCare’s production processes, aligning with
sustainability goals in the pharmaceutical industry. The primary objective of this thesis has
been testing the separation quality between a final and intermediate product using a lab-scale
version of the purification method. The results supported findings from earlier experiments
done by GE HealthCare, that a possible way to improve the separation between these
molecules is... (More)
This degree project aims to evaluate the possibility of using a sustainable purification
technique at an industrial scale. If applicable, this could be an efficient way to separate a
contrast media product and its precursor based on their molecular differences. This would
allow for reduced emissions from one of GE HealthCare’s production processes, aligning with
sustainability goals in the pharmaceutical industry. The primary objective of this thesis has
been testing the separation quality between a final and intermediate product using a lab-scale
version of the purification method. The results supported findings from earlier experiments
done by GE HealthCare, that a possible way to improve the separation between these
molecules is by altering the chemical properties of the precursor before the purification step.
At a process level, this would allow for the isolation of one high-purity product stream from a
high-purity precursor stream but would also require additional modification before and after
the purification step. Changes to an industrial process do however require multiple
considerations, and the results in this project need to be applicable to the overall process,
including cost and scalability. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Haugen, Kristian LU
supervisor
organization
course
KFKM05 20251
year
type
H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
subject
keywords
Pharmaceuticals, Sustainable production, Chemical purification, Biophysical Chemistry
language
English
additional info
The thesis is subject to a long-term embargo due to confidentiality and company patent rights.
id
9211831
date added to LUP
2025-09-08 08:41:59
date last changed
2025-09-08 08:41:59
@misc{9211831,
  abstract     = {{To promote sustainable manufacturing and lower industrial emissions, GE HealthCare is
constantly assessing new approaches to improve their production processes. As a global
manufacturer of contrast media, their potential for positive societal impact is significant. In
addition to sustainability, a pharmaceutical production process is required to deliver products
of high purity. This means that the purification techniques used as part of the process must
match the overall manufacturing goals. Although multiple ways of chemical purification can
be considered as green alternatives, the method must also be possible to upscale to be
industrially viable.
The work summarized in this report is part of a larger project aiming to design a new
production process for one of GE HealthCare´s products. To evaluate the feasibility of a
separation technique, this study aims to provide an initial screening of potential operating
conditions. As one of the intermediate products in the process have many molecular
similarities to the product itself, the focus of this evaluation lied on separation of these two
molecules. The findings strengthen results from earlier experiments done by GE HealthCare,
that separation is possible, but that it could require additional adjustment of the process stream
before and after the purification step.}},
  author       = {{Haugen, Kristian}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Assessing the feasibility of a sustainable purification method for separation of contrast media product and its precursor}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}