10182062Digital Lab-to-Flow Platform for Circular and Efficient Green Colloidal Silver ProductionClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKThis project will explore how cutting-edge green chemistry and digital innovation can make chemical manufacturing cleaner, safer, and more resource-efficient. Metalchemy will design and test a new semi-automated circular production system for its patented green colloidal silver, a sustainable alternative to conventional antimicrobial materials used in packaging, personal care, healthcare, and agriculture. The aim is to demonstrate how chemical production can move away from fossil-based, waste-intensive methods toward circular, low-carbon manufacturing that minimises environmental impact while maintaining high performance and quality. Traditional colloidal silver production relies on hazardous chemicals and energy-intensive conditions, generating waste and emissions. In contrast, Metalchemy's process uses renewable plant-based extracts as natural reducing and stabilising agents, replacing toxic reagents with safe, bio-based ingredients. The materials are produced in water under mild conditions, avoiding hazardous by-products and supporting the transition to sustainable industrial chemistry. During the project, Metalchemy will assess how its successful batch process can be transformed into a digitally controlled continuous system, improving efficiency and scalability. The team will combine process design, automation, and data-driven optimisation to develop a prototype microreactor that can operate continuously with minimal manual handling. By integrating monitoring and digital control, the system will improve product consistency and reduce both production time and energy use. The project will also explore how digital tools such as modelling, high-throughput testing, and artificial intelligence can identify optimal reaction conditions automatically. This will help create a smart, self-optimising process capable of maintaining quality while reducing waste and resource use. The work will pave the way for cleaner, more efficient chemical manufacturing methods applicable across many bio-based materials. The technology could help decarbonise one of the UK's most energy-intensive sectors while enabling safer, more sustainable antimicrobial products. Beyond the laboratory, the project supports national goals to reduce industrial emissions, cut chemical waste, and strengthen the UK's leadership in green manufacturing. By demonstrating the feasibility of circular, low-carbon production for advanced materials, Metalchemy aims to set a new benchmark for sustainability in the chemical industry, showing that innovation, environmental responsibility, and commercial growth can go hand in hand.