FlowCAT offers flexible fixed-bed hydrogenation

Published: 22-Mar-2010
Manufacturing

Bench-top reactor produces results from millilitres of product

HEL, an international group of companies supplying process tools for the pharmaceutical industry, has introduced the FlowCAT continuous flow bench-top reactor, which is said to be a flexible and cost-effective choice in lab-scale fixed-bed hydrogenation.

HEL, headquartered in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, UK, has developed a system that delivers high-pressure flow chemistry, with the flexibility to tune hydrogenation conditions to suit the chemistry.

The system design allows for rapid screening of process conditions, which is useful in the early stage generation of API intermediates, where the behaviour and chemistry of the species may be an unknown.

The FlowCAT system is capable of producing results from just a few millilitres of product, but retains the ability to ramp up production volumes once ideal conditions are identified.

At the heart of the system is a tubular reactor with a standard 3mL or 12mL isothermal reaction zone. The system operates up to 400°C and 200Bar. Any heterogeneous catalyst can be used and users can pack their own columns. The wide-bore reactor removes any propensity for blockages and further extends the reliability of the system, the company says.

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