Accelerate reaction screening

with Batchington

How our parallel batch screening platform became a reliable R&D workhorse

Custom synthesis and initial process development require the systematic screening of feedstocks, solvents, catalysts and reaction temperatures. In an efficient workflow, these are quickly converged into reaction conditions with upscaling potential. When reactants in gas-form are used, the handling of multiple laboratory glass setups and autoclaves becomes complicated, if not dangerous. In our quest to develop novel routes to produce sustainable chemicals, it was indispensable to efficiently assess many direct hydrogenation reactions of biomass. This is where Batchington finds its origin. Batchington by design is kept compact, robust, simple and reliable: the limited working volume of the parallel batch reactors enables easy and safe operation and makes it an indispensable workhorse for each organic synthesis laboratory looking to significantly accelerate its reaction screening capabilities and decision making.

Batchington works with reactor modules of twelve autoclaves in parallel. It has a direct gas injection system, which avoids the time-consuming connecting of separate gas lines for the autoclaves. Thereby, the platform has a surprisingly small footprint and fits easily within a fume cupboard. Due to the modular design with parallel reactors, Batchington enables a versatile and flexible approach in probing many different reaction conditions. The platform can reliably assess relative performance differences between reaction conditions  based on conversion numbers, which improves and simplifies decision making.  

Working out reactions with Batchington means that sets of twelve reactors are loaded, and in a second step pressurized through a septum. After gas injection, all autoclaves are isolated volumes and volatile reaction products cannot move across parallel experiments. The reaction station has heat blocks which quickly heat up the reaction mixture to working temperature. See the figure below for a Batchington reaction screening workflow. The autoclave reactors are PTFE-lined and can be used up to 200°C. They have a generous pressure rating of 180 bar to enable excess gas feedstock and potential temperature runaways. The liquid content is 2 mL, compatible with routine analysis techniques including gas chromatography (GC), high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), and UV-VIS spectroscopy.

 

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