A Modular Approach to the Production of Systems for the Automatic and Semi-Automatic Synthesis of Molecules in Plastic Ware
Abstract
This project proposed a new model of chemical manufacturing whereby high infrastructure large-scale industrial chemical, and small-scale laboratory based manufacturing processes are replaced by distributed, point-of-use manufacturing in self-contained cartridges which require minimal user interaction to produce desired chemical products on demand. This approach allows for the transport of chemical precursors to the desired compounds rather than the products themselves, this has obvious benefits in the cases of unstable of short shelf-life materials but has added benefits in terms of manufacture as the synthesis of smaller quantities is inherently safer than large scale processes and poses less risk to both operators and infrastructure. The modular approach we took to the production of these cartridges also represents the fruition of a new approach to chemical synthesis where the design of small-scale chemical reactors is integrated with multi-step chemical synthesis in the use of discreet reaction modules which are designed using our unique approach to 3D printed reactionware.1-6 To achieve this new model of chemical manufacturing the goal of the project was to develop reactionware based chemical manufacturing and combine it with automated, robotic chemical synthesis execution to produce a small form factor, automated synthesis platform which would require minimal infrastructure. The approach taken was the development of a modular system whereby individual reaction steps can be embodied in parametrically defined reactor modules designed for specific chemical transformations, which can then be flexibly combined into extended, multi-step sequences.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 28, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1193519
Entities
People
- Leroy Cronin
Organizations
- University of Glasgow