Parallel reactor for sampling and conducting in situ flow-through reactions and a method of using same

An apparatus for parallel processing of reaction mixtures comprising:

• a reactor block including reaction chambers for containing reaction mixtures under pressure, the reactor block further including a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a first plurality of fluid flow paths providing fluid communication with the first sidewall and respective reaction chambers and the second sidewall and respective reaction chambers;
• a stirring system including a base plate defining a second plurality of flow paths, wherein respective flow paths of said second plurality of flow paths are in fluid communication with respective reaction chambers and respective fluid flow paths of said first plurality of flow paths, and said base plate supporting a plurality of stirring blade assemblies for mixing the reaction mixtures, wherein one stirring blade assembly of said plurality of stirring blade assemblies is received in the respective reaction chambers;
• at least one interchangeable manifold supported by the first sidewall, the interchangeable manifold defining a plurality of manifold inlet/outlet ports, wherein respective inlet/outlet ports of said plurality of inlet/outlet ports are in communication with respective fluid flow paths of said first plurality of fluid flow paths;
• and
• a sampling manifold assembly supported by the second sidewall in fluid communication with the respective reaction chambers through respective flow paths of the first plurality of flow paths, the second plurality of flow paths or both, wherein a portion of the mixtures can be withdrawn from the respective reaction chambers without depressurizing or lowering the pressure in the respective reaction chambers.

An apparatus for parallel processing of reaction mixtures comprising:

• a reactor block including reaction chambers for containing reaction mixtures under pressure, the reactor block further including a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a first plurality of fluid flow paths providing fluid communication with the first sidewall and respective reaction chambers and the second sidewall and respective reaction chambers;
• a stirring system including a base plate defining a second plurality of flow paths, wherein at least respective flow paths of said second plurality of flow paths are in fluid communication with respective reaction chambers, respective fluid flow paths of said first plurality of flow paths or both, and said base plate supporting a plurality of stirring blade assemblies for mixing the reaction mixtures, wherein one stirring blade assembly of said plurality of stirring blade assemblies is received in one of the respective reaction chambers, and said base plate further providing a sealing surface for isolating the reaction chambers from ambient conditions, and further permitting applying a positive pressure to the respective reaction chambers, wherein the maximum pressure can reach 1500 psi;
• interchangeable manifolds supported by the first sidewall and the second sidewall for allowing the introduction of a fluid into or withdrawing a fluid from the respective reaction chambers, wherein said introduction or withdrawal of fluid occurs under pressure and without depressurizing or reducing the pressure of the respective reaction chambers, the interchangeable manifolds also defining a plurality of manifold inlet/outlet ports, wherein respective inlet/outlet ports of said plurality of inlet/outlet ports are in communication with respective fluid flow paths of said first plurality of fluid flow paths;
• and
• a sampling manifold assembly coupled in fluid communication with the interchangeable manifolds, wherein a portion of the reaction mixture retained in the respective reaction chambers can be withdrawn from the respective reaction chambers through respective fluid flow paths of said first plurality of fluid flow paths and respective flow paths of said second plurality of flow paths, or both, without depressurizing the respective reaction chamber.

A method of parallel processing multiple reaction mixtures comprising the steps of:

• providing reaction chambers with starting materials to form reaction mixtures;
• agitating the reaction mixtures during at least a portion of the experiment;
• providing interchangeable manifolds having inlet/outlet ports in fluid communication with the respective reaction chambers, wherein a fluid can be introduced into, withdrawn from or vented through the respective reaction chambers;
• and
• evaluating one or more properties of the reaction mixtures or a portion of the reaction mixture by measuring at least one characteristic of the reaction mixtures during at least a portion of the reaction.