Mettler Toledo's latest Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy instrument, FlowIR, is designed for integration into any home-built or commercially available flow-chemistry synthesis system.
According to the company, it gives small-scale researchers control over flow reactions comparable to that of the largest manufacturing conglomerates, while allowing larger organisations to gather more data along complex multi-step reaction chains.
Because no special connections are required, FlowIR allows real-time flow-chemistry monitoring at any point along a reaction chain.
Multiple units along the reaction path in multi-step synthesis set-ups give critical feedback to allow ongoing reaction adjustments.
The enhanced control over potentially volatile reactions enhances safety.
Typically fewer experiments are required, because reagents or other materials can be added as needed, eliminating the need to perform reactions repeatedly and resulting in less material being used.
FlowIR requires no sampling, which reduces opportunities for the operator error while providing more accurate measurements.
Dispersion and diffusion effects can be readily detected in solution so that reagent streams can be added and steady-state conditions reached faster.
FlowIR is also highly portable, with each unit weighing 6lb (28kg).
Standard and readily available Ethernet TCP/IP connectors are used for communicating results to data-gathering instruments for simplified reporting.
