New microchannel technique could improve vitamin D3 production, researchers reveal

28 Aug 2024 --- Microchannels carved into glass with ultrafast lasers can be used to improve the efficiency and purity of the vitamin D3 production process. Such microchannels offer transparency for ultraviolet (UV) light — which is key to producing vitamin D3.

“This technology represents a major leap forward in vitamin D3 production,” states the authors of the study conducted at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. “It paves the way for more affordable and readily available vitamin D3 supplements, benefiting consumers and healthcare systems alike.”

Currently, vitamin D3 is typically produced in bulky reactors, which can be inefficient, explain the authors. They add that their microfluidic approach could improve the rate of production by over 20%. 

For the study, published in Light: Advanced Manufacturing, the researchers created the microchannels using fused silica glass, which offers greater UV transparency and chemical resistance. 

They used a laser carving technique to create the channel design and optimize mixing and flow with the aim of improving efficiency. 

The research team has demonstrated how their microchannel technique can produce vitamin D3 through the use of UV LED lights, which could open the door for the creation of portable devices that can synthesize the vitamin. 

“For high-performance UV photochemical synthesis, the substrate material of the microreactor is of vital importance for high-efficiency utilization of UV photon energies.”

The technique may also foster innovation beyond vitamin D3 production, as it is able to handle complex reactions under high temperatures and pressure, making it suitable for a wide range of chemical synthesis applications from pharmaceuticals to materials science. 

“The emergence of microfluidic technology and the integration of continuous-flow chemical reactions into photochemical synthesis have ushered in new prospects for fine chemicals and pharmaceutical synthesis,” the researchers state. 

Sufficient vitamin D3 intake is important for bone and cardiovascular health, frailty and fatigue, and for ensuring a healthy pregnancy.