Patent ID: 7373259
Filing Date: 2008-05-13
Classification: B01J,C40B,G01N

Abstract:
1. A computer-controlled reaction apparatus for simultaneously conducting chemical reactions on a plurality of samples by maintaining the samples in chemical isolation from each other and subjecting each of the samples to substantially identical conditions, comprising: (a) a generally cylindrical reactor housing having a bore and a central axis, the housing comprised of: (b) a gas-distribution and pressure control system in communication with the reactor housing; (c) a positioning system connected to the drive section; (d) a temperature control system for controlling the temperature of the reactor housing; (e) a reaction assembly, contained within the reactor housing, and movable in the housing bore in a direction along the axis of the housing, the reaction assembly comprising: (f) an analytical monitoring system comprising: at least one optical port and at least one optical arrangement, comprising a paired source and detector, the at least one optical arrangement being capable of performing a measurement, at one or more ultraviolet, visible or infrared wavelengths, of a sample contained at a sample holding position to characterize the sample; (g) a computer controller, connected to the gas-distribution and pressure control system, the positioning system, the temperature control system, and the analytical monitoring system; wherein the reaction assembly is movable between the loading/unloading section, the reaction section, and the analytical monitoring system; and wherein the drive section mechanically links the reaction assembly to the positioning system, so that the reaction assembly is positioned to each of a plurality of predetermined monitoring positions, such that at least one of the reaction wells is aligned with the at least one analytical port at each of the plurality of monitoring positions.