Q: What are the types of chemical synthesis reactors?

There are three types of chemical reactors:Batch reactorsContinuous stirred-tank reactors (CSTR)Plug flow reactors (PFR)Batch reactors are stirred-tank reactors where the chemical reaction occurs in a confined space over a period of time.Continuous stirred-tank reactors, or semi-batch reactors, add reactants continuously while removing by-products.Plug-flow reactors are usually tubular reactors, where the conversion of chemical reactions is influenced by residence time.

Question 1

What are the types of chemical synthesis reactors?

Accepted Answer

There are three types of chemical reactors:

Batch reactors
Continuous stirred-tank reactors (CSTR)
Plug flow reactors (PFR)

Batch reactors are stirred-tank reactors where the chemical reaction occurs in a confined space over a period of time.

Continuous stirred-tank reactors, or semi-batch reactors, add reactants continuously while removing by-products.

Plug-flow reactors are usually tubular reactors, where the conversion of chemical reactions is influenced by residence time.

Question 2

What are the challenges with traditional synthesis reactors?

Accepted Answer

The preparation of manual lab equipment tends to be cumbersome and slow while putting the scientist at risk of exposure. Traditional setups also tend to be poorly controlled when limiting the range of reaction parameters, including T, p, pH, and sampling, which risks inconsistent and non-reproducible results. Information gaps limit understanding if data is not recorded or documentation is lost.

Question 3

How can I automate my lab reactor?

Accepted Answer

METTLER TOLEDO automated chemical synthesis reactor systems are designed for quick start-up, easy handling, precise control, intrinsic safety, and seamless data analysis and reporting.

Initiate recipes from the preconfigured home screen touchscreen or software.
Control reaction parameters from touchscreen or software, assuring better data quality and complete data sets.
Automate active cooling to allow fast temperature control and avoid unexpected side products.
Automate data export to share visualization and traceability of results when you need them.

Additionally, the RX-10 reactor control system can connect to your existing jacketed lab reactor to automate cumbersome tasks for those who do not need full workstation setups. This reactor control system uses the same touchscreen interface as the full workstations for seamless workflows.

Question 4

Do METTLER TOLEDO chemical synthesis reactors support Design of Experiment (DoE) studies?

Accepted Answer

Our processes have of course to be economically viable. And you can imagine that with a chemical synthesis with 30 steps or more, the yield of each step has to be above 95%. This is a very good reason to use design of experiment for process development. In the new quality by design approach, It is expected that the relationship between process parameters and product quality is clearly established. Design of experiment is widely applied across industry. In this talk, Didier Monnaie from Lonza outlines why precision is imperative to conducting a successful DOE. It is very important to control all parameters as tightly as possible. If the process parameters are not in control, It will translate into noisy responses and the power of the DOE analysis will be decreased. Factor effects will not stand out of the noise of the system. So how do you precisely record and control dosing, temperature, pH and all the other parameters needed to complete a full factorial set without slowing development time? Lanza opted for an established automated synthesis reactor to increase productivity. We used the EasyMax equipment. The mechanical stirring system with an impeller allows for a good and reproducible mixing. It has an accurate dosage system that was used to deliver the trifluoroacetic acid. It has an accurate and precise temperature control system. Moreover, the handling of the equipment is made easy. Some operations like dosage, temperature settings, stirring are automated. It has been possible for technicians to run several reactions in parallel. Otherwise, we cannot get reliable mathematical models for the reaction. The automated setup allowed Monnaie and his team to quickly collect accurate data and build mathematical models to identify parameters for process and product optimization. Our experience has shown that the use of design of experiment has improved our process understanding. On the basis of the two mathematical models, it is then possible to identify the best conditions for the reaction. The best reaction conditions were rapidly identified, much more rapidly than in the traditional approach. Learn more about accelerating your design of experiment. Download the free white paper at mt.com slash wp-doe.

Because our chemical synthesis reactors are designed to minimize bottlenecks and maximize the efficiency of the chemical laboratory, our models easily enable Design of Experiment (DoE) studies to produce high-quality experimental data. You can use METTLER TOLEDO reactors to optimize reaction and process parameters and explore how various combinations of settings such as temperature, pH, dosing, and stirring affect outcomes.

Question 5

What is a chemical synthesis reactor?

Accepted Answer

Chemical synthesis reactors are vessels in which chemical reactions take place. Reaction parameters, such as temperature, dosing, stirring, and sampling, are set to perform a synthesis reaction. The accuracy and precision of those reaction parameters play an important role in the selectivity, conversion, and reproducibility of the chemical reaction.

Question 6

What is the difference between Basic/Standard and Advanced models?

Accepted Answer

EasyMax Advanced offers more features than its Basic/Standard counterpart. The Advanced personal synthesis workstation offers a more comprehensive platform for information management, including graph trends and task sequences on the touchscreen and full data capture/experiment documentation. You can also easily integrate and add the capabilities of:

iC Data Center™ software, to share data and build institutional knowledge
iControl™ software for planning, advanced control, and data evaluation
Heat flow calorimetry for process safety screening to identify, eliminate, and correct non-scalable reaction conditions

The 102 and 402 designations indicate the maximum volume and number of reactors available in the given workstation (i.e. 102 = up to two 100 mL vessels, while 402 = up to two 400 mL vessels)

See all Basic and Advanced models:

Question 7

Can I connect my reactor to third-party accessories?

Accepted Answer

Yes! The Easy Control Box (ECB) accessory, purchased separately, extends your reactor for automated control and data capture of third-party devices, including sensors and dosing/sampling solutions.

ECB provides dosing control capabilities and easily connects commercially available pumps and balances for automated pre-programmed gravimetric or volumetric dosing. The accessory has plug-and-measure functionality with SmartConnect technology sensors. Control elements are automatically recognized, making reactor configuration simple and easy.

Learn more about Easy Control Box (ECB).

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Introducing EasyMax 102i

Introducing EasyMax 102i