Symyx Technologies, Inc.

Intermolecular, Inc.

Freeslate, Inc.

H Sam Bergh

Shenheng Guan

Daniel Meron Pinkas

James R Engstrom

Peijun Cong

Lynn Van Erden

Kyle Self

Ravi Srinivasan

Youqi Wang

Jason Wells

Michael Myslovaty

Tony N Wheeler

Anthony F Volpe

Astrid Lohf

Victor Wong

Steffen Hardt

Stephen Cypes

Frank Doffing

John Gallipeo

Michael Klaus

Friedhelm Schoenfeld

Michael Spitkovsky

Mikhail Spitkovsy

Jeffrey Maag

Frank Michel

Lynn Thomas Van Erden

Nallakkan Arvindan

The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for rapid analysis of members of a combinatorial library. The apparatus includes a plurality of reactor vessels for containing individual library members, a fluid handling system that apportions a test fluid about equally between each of the vessels and a housing for enclosing the reactor vessels, the housing defining a pressure chamber, wherein the housing is configured to sustain a pressure substantially above atmospheric pressure. This allows for simultaneous screening of library members at high pressure by providing a small pressure differential on reactor components. The disclosed apparatus is especially useful for screening library members based on their ability to catalyze the conversion of fluid reactants.

High pressure parallel fixed bed reactor and method

A microfluidic fluid distribution manifold includes a common port and a plurality of fluidic channels spirally wound around the common port. Each fluidic channel connects the common port to an independent port and provides essentially the same flow resistance to a fluid flowing therethrough. A fixture for the flow restrictor allows fluid flows to be communicated between the flow restrictor and a larger system such as a parallel reactor system.

Microfluidic fluid distribution manifold for use with multi-channel reactor systems

Gas chromatographs of the invention generally comprise four or more analysis channels. Specifically, four or more gas chromatography columns are configured for parallel analysis of four or more gaseous samples with detection being effected using a microdetector array comprising four or more microdetectors. In one embodiment, the four or more microdetectorsare microfabricated detectors, and are integrally formed with a substrate or with one or more microchip bodies mounted on a substrate. In a preferred embodiment, a microdetector array comprises four or more thermal conductivity detectors having one or more thin-film detection filaments. A preferred heated environment for highly parallel gas chromatographs is also disclosed.

Parallel gas chromatograph with microdetector array

A library of material samples is provided in a condition suitable for imaging using infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The samples are provided to one or more detection cells, each of the cells including or containing a reflective surface. Preferably, for imaging, an energy source (e.g. a source of infrared radiation) provides energy to the detection cells to interact with the samples. Thereafter, images (e.g., spectra) related to the samples are created based upon the interaction.

Parallel infrared spectroscopy apparatus and method

Parallel flow reaction systems comprising four or more reaction channels are disclosed. Distribution systems, and parallel flow reaction systems comprising such distribution systems are also disclosed. Specifically, the distribution systems comprise one or more subsystems, including for example, a flow-partitioning subsystem for providing a different flow rate to each of the four or more reactors, a pressure-partitioning subsystem for providing a different reaction pressure in the reaction cavity of each of the four or more reactors, and a feed-composition subsystem for providing a different feed composition to each of the four or more reactors. In preferred embodiments, the one or more subsystems can comprise at least one set of four or more flow restrictors, each of the four or more flow restrictors having a flow resistance that varies relative to other flow restrictors in the set.

Parallel flow process optimization reactor

Parallel flow reaction systems comprising four or more reaction channels are disclosed. Distribution systems, and parallel flow reaction systems comprising such distribution systems are also disclosed. Specifically, the distribution systems comprise a feed-composition subsystem for providing a different feed composition to each of the four or more reactors. In preferred embodiments, the feed composition subsystem comprises at least one set of four or more feed-component flow restrictors, each of the four or more feed-component flow restrictors having a flow resistance that varies relative to other flow restrictors in the set.

Parallel flow reactor having variable composition

Parallel flow chemical processing systems, such as parallel flow chemical reaction systems are disclosed. These systems are adapted to simultaneously and independently vary temperature between separate flow channels, preferably by employing separate, individual heating elements in thermal communication with each of four or more parallel flow reactors. The flow reactors are preferably isolated from each other using a thermal isolation system comprising fluid-based heat exchange. In preferred embodiments, the axial heat flux can be fixedly or controllably varied.

Parallel flow reactor having improved thermal control

A method for sampling reaction products includes delivering a reactant through a sampling probe to contact a substance deposited on a substrate and reacting the reactant to form a reaction product. At least a portion of the reaction product is withdrawn through the sampling probe and analyzed. The sampling probe is contacted with the substrate during at least a portion of the delivering, reacting and withdrawing steps.

Method for sampling reaction products

A chemical processing microsystem useful for identifying and optimizing, materials (e.g., catalysts) that enhance chemical processes or for characterizing and/or optimizing chemical processes is disclosed. The chemical processing microsystem comprises a plurality of microreactors 600 and, in a preferred embodiment, a plurality of microseparators 900 integral with the chemical processing microsystem 10. The microreactors 600 are preferably diffusion-mixed microreactors formed in a plurality of laminae that include a modular, interchangeable candidate-material array 100. The material array 100 comprises a plurality of different candidate materials (e.g., catalysts), preferably arranged at separate, individually addressable portions of a substrate (e.g., wafer). The microseparators 900 are similarly formed in a plurality of laminae that include a modular, interchangeable adsorbent array 700.

Methods for identifying optimizing catalysts in parallel-flow microreactors

A chemical processing microsystem useful for identifying and optimizing materials (e.g., catalysts) that enhance chemical processes or for characterizing and/or optimizing chemical processes is disclosed. The chemical processing microsystem comprises a plurality of microreactorsand, in a preferred embodiment, a plurality of microseparatorsintegral with the chemical processing microsystem. The microreactorsare preferably diffusion-mixed microreactors formed in a plurality of laminae that include a modular, interchangeable candidate-material array. The material arraycomprises a plurality of different candidate materials (e.g., catalysts), preferably arranged at separate, individually addressable portions of a substrate (e.g., wafer). The microseparatorsare similarly formed in a plurality of laminae that include a modular, interchangeable adsorbent array. The adsorbent arraycomprises one or more adsorbents, preferably arranged at separate, individually addressable portions of a substrate to spatially correspond to the plurality of different candidate materials. Modular microfluidic distribution systems are also disclosed. The chemical processing microsystem can be integrated into a material evaluation system that enables a comprehensive combinatorial material science research program.

Methods and apparatus for fluid distribution in microfluidic systems

A sampling probe for delivering a reactant to a substance deposited on a substrate to form a reaction product and for transporting the reaction product to a product analyzer for analysis. The probe includes a tip positionable over the substance on the substrate. The probe has a recess in the tip sized and shaped for receiving at least a portion of the reaction product. The probe has a product sampling passage extending from the recess adapted for connection to the product analyzer for transporting the portion of the reaction product to the product analyzer. Further, a reactant delivery passage extends to an outlet at the recess for delivering reactant to the substance on the substrate to form the reaction product.

Sampling probe

A chemical processing microsystem useful for identifying and optimizing materials (e.g., catalysts) that enhance chemical processes or for characterizing and/or optimizing chemical processes is disclosed. The chemical processing microsystem comprises a plurality of microreactors and, in a preferred embodiment, a plurality of microseparators integral with the chemical processing microsystem . The microreactors are preferably diffusion-mixed microreactors formed in a plurality of laminae that include a modular, interchangeable candidate-material array . The material array comprises a plurality of different candidate materials (e.g., catalysts), preferably arranged at separate, individually addressable portions of a substrate (e.g., wafer). The microseparators are similarly formed in a plurality of laminae that include a modular, interchangeable adsorbent array . The adsorbent array comprises one or more adsorbents, preferably arranged at separate, individually, addressable portions of a substrate to spatially correspond to the plurality of different candidate materials. Modular microfluidic distribution systems are also disclosed. The chemical processing microsystem can be integrated into a material evaluation system that enables a comprehensive combinatorial material science research program.

Chemical processing microsystems comprising parallel flow microreactors and methods for using same

A novel gas injection valve for injecting discrete charges of gas into a mobile phase or carrier stream is provided. Injection valves of the invention comprise a plurality of microvalves capable of receiving gas at different pressures and emitting discrete charges of gas at approximately the same pressure. The invention further provides for parallel injection valve arrays capable of injecting multiple samples substantially simultaneously and a method of injecting discrete gas samples at a controlled pressure to a high-resolution gas chromatograph.

Injection valve array

A chemical processing microsystem useful for identifying and optimizing materials (e.g., catalysts) that enhance chemical processes or for characterizing and/or optimizing chemical processes is disclosed. The chemical processing microsystem comprises a plurality of microreactors and, in a preferred embodiment, a plurality of microseparators integral with the chemical processing microsystem . The microreactors are preferably diffusion-mixed microreactors formed in a plurality of laminae that include a modular, interchangeable candidate-material array . The material array comprises a plurality of different candidate materials (e.g., catalysts), preferably arranged at separate, individually addressable portions of a substrate (e.g., wafer). The microseparators are similarly formed in a plurality of laminae that include a modular, interchangeable adsorbent array . The adsorbent array comprises one or more adsorbents, preferably arranged at separate, individually addressable portions of a substrate to spatially correspond to the plurality of different candidate materials. Modular microfluidic distribution systems are also disclosed. The chemical processing microsystem can be integrated into a material evaluation system that enables a comprehensive combinatorial material science research program.

Methods for identifying and optimizing materials in microfluidic systems

Gas chromatographs of the invention generally comprise four or more analysis channels. Specifically, four or more gas chromatography columns are configured for parallel analysis of four or more gaseous samples with detection being effected using a microdetector array comprising four or more microdetectors. In one embodiment, the four or more microdetectors are microfabricated detectors, and are integrally formed with a substrate or with one or more microchip bodies mounted on a substrate. In a preferred embodiment, a microdetector array comprises four or more thermal conductivity detectors having one or more thin-film detection filaments. A preferred heated environment for highly parallel gas chromatographs is also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

San Francisco, CA, United States of America

H Sam Bergh