Fine chemicals are batches of less common chemicals made in small batches. One such example is the annual flu vaccine. Because the annual strain of flu is different from year to year, the companies that make the vaccine do not make huge batches of it and store the excess. This is not financially smart, since the same vaccine will not be used the following year. When you need several doses of penicillin to treat patients in another country, this too falls under the fine chemicals process. Here is how penicillin is produced in small batches and why it matters to your "doctors without borders" trip.

The Extraction Process

There are actually a handful of different processes that help create fine chemicals. One of these processes is extraction. As the name suggests, a chemical agent is extracted from something, such as a living organism or a fungus. In the case of penicillin, it is extracted from molding bread, which is allowed to sit in a humongous vat for weeks. Heat and moisture are applied to help break down the bread and create mold. Then the mold produces a liquid.

The liquid from the mold is pressed out of the vat of rotting bread. It is sent to another tank, where the liquid is purified. Then it passes through a heating process and laboratory inspections. If and when the liquid passes inspection, it is officially penicillin and it is put into vials for sale.

Batches Are Labeled and Regulated

Government regulations require that every small batch of fine chemicals are labeled and logged. The purpose for this is so that negative effects or fatalities can be traced back to the batch and lot number. If the batch of penicillin vials you take with you to administer to poor people in another country makes them sicker or kills them, you can track down where it came from.

You can also file a consumer protection report. This motivates the manufacturer to recall the entire batch and check it for problems. The manufacturer then sends replacement vials to help in your charitable endeavors.

Checking Your Batch and Lot Numbers Against the Recall Lists

Before you pack up everything you need to provide free medical care for the poor in another country, you can check your batch and lot numbers of your penicillin against a posted list. You can also check other fine chemicals in your trip supplies to make sure it is all safe enough to administer. Then you know your charitable work as a doctor will make for a successful trip.

Contact a chemical company, like N&M Specialty Chemicals, for more help.