UV detection

Collecting Steady State Product

The Vapourtec R-Series software features the facility to graphically display axial dispersion that takes place within tube reactors, so that it is possible to automatically predict, (and correctly time the collection of) the steady state part of the reaction product stream when it emerges from the reactor.

This means it is possible to collect the optimum amount of good product with the minimum waste of reagents, and it is possible to determine exactly how much good product can be made from a limited amount of substrate.

So why would anyone want to trigger collection from a UV sensor?

The answer is that there are some circumstances (for example with heterogeneous columns) where either the dispersion is hard to accurately model (because the flow characteristics of the column contents simply cannot be known in advance), or else the working volume of the column reactor (the volume of the cavities between the substrate) is not accurately known.

In these cases, it may not be possible to simply “predict” the location or shape of the peak, and so perfect collection timing cannot be assured.

 

 

Triggering from the UV Sensor Trace

R-Series software has offers the facility to monitor (and record & chart) the output of a UV sensor. Vapourtec has now added the facility for UV Triggered collection.  That is to say, operation of the collection valve is based on the output of a UV sensor located after the last reactor.

The user chooses the conditions for triggering. These might be based on either the level or the gradient or both. Criteria can be selected per reaction (i.e. a different trigger level can be set for each reaction in a sequence if need be). Collection will then proceed according to these criteria.

Using a Fraction Collector

RS-300 multiple pump flow chemistry system

If it is desirable to split the desired output over several vials on a fraction collector, the user specifies a maximum amount per vial (subject to the known maximum for the vial type in question on the selected fraction collector).   Based on the volume estimate, a number of vial positions on the fraction collector will be set aside for that peak.  If not all these vials turn out to be required (i.e. if the total volume of the peak is less than expected), the last vial(s) will be left empty.

(The peak of the subsequent reaction will always be captured starting at its originally planned first vial position).


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