Symyx Technologies, Inc.

Richard Tiede

Ralph B Nielsen

Adam Luke Safir

Damian A Hajduk

J Christopher Freitag

Paul Mansky

Steve Havadtoy

Lynn Van Erden

Thomas Harding McWaid

A method and apparatus for reacting a plurality of different mixtures in parallel in a semi-batch or continuous mode is provided. Each reaction is contained within a reactor vessel, the reactor vessels combined into a reactor block. Reactant(s) to be added during the reaction are kept in a header barrel, which has a plunger to feed reactant(s) from the header barrel through a transfer line into the reactor vessel. The plunger is moved using a drive system. The header barrels are optionally combined in a header block. The header block is sealed to a plate containing the transfer lines, which in turn is sealed to the reactor block. A latch mechanism is provided for easy sealing of the reactor and header blocks to the plate. The entire apparatus may be placed on a rocker or rotating plate for mixture as the reaction is proceeding.

Parallel semi-continuous or continuous reactor system

Parallel semi-continuous or continuous reactors are disclosed. The parallel reactors preferably comprise four or more reaction vessels. The reaction vessels are preferably small volume reaction vessels, preferably pressure reaction vessels, and/or preferably integral with a common reactor block. The reaction vessels can comprise shaft-driven stirrers. At least two, preferably at least three or at least four liquid feed lines can provide selective fluid communication between each of the reaction vessels and one or more liquid reagent sources. Additional features, suitable in connection with parallel reactors or with single reaction vessels are also disclosed.

Parallel semicontinuous or continuous reactors

An apparatus for use in testing a plurality of compositions in parallel. The apparatus includes an upper plate having a plurality of openings extending therethrough to form upper fluid chambers and a lower plate having a plurality of openings extending at least partially therethrough to form cavities. A central plate having a plurality of openings extending therethrough to form central fluid chambers is positioned between the upper and lower plates with the central chambers in alignment with the upper chambers and the cavities. A porous sheet is interposed between the upper and central plates such that an upper surface of the sheet is in contact with fluid within the upper chamber and a lower surface of the sheet is in contact with fluid within the central chamber. The apparatus further includes a flexible membrane positioned between the lower and central plates such that changes in pressure within the cavities or fluid chambers cause deflection of the membrane to force fluid to pass through the porous sheet.

Apparatus for testing compositions in contact with a porous medium

Methods for parallel semi-continuous or continuous reactions

Continuous feed parallel reactor

Apparatus and method for testing compositions in contact with a porous medium

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Richard Tiede