Royston, UK (18th June 2009) – Dolomite, a world leader in microfluidic design and manufacture, has introduced the 1ml Microreactor Chip, a glass microfluidic device designed for the mixing and reacting of two or three liquid reagent streams. Ideal for solution phase chemistry, including compound synthesis and reaction kinetics studies, this chip enables rapid mixing across a wide range of flow rates.
The chip has three glass layers that are accurately aligned and thermally fused. Each glass layer has etched microchannels providing a total reaction volume of 1ml, which is very high for a microfluidic device. By using multiple glass layers it is possible to achieve interdigitated mixing of the input streams. Interdigitated mixing involves splitting and recombining the input streams to reduce diffusion distance and hence mixing time.
First developed for leading chemistry automation innovator, Syrris, the 1ml Microreactor Chip was designed to form part of Syrris’ Africa microreactor flow system. Ideally suited for applications such as reaction optimization, nanoparticle synthesis and kinetic studies, the 1ml Microreactor Chip is an integral part of the Africa system providing rapid mixing across a range of flow rates as well as providing faster and cleaner reactions.
Quick connection and disconnection of fluid pipes is enabled via the chip’s compatibility with an innovative chip holder and header. Measuring at 35 x 90 x 4.5mm, this chip has a reaction volume of 1000µl. With the ability to heat or cool the fluid before mixing, the reactor chips can be mounted onto the heating module using a microreactor adaptor to provide an operating temperature ranging from -20 to 300°C.
With high visibility levels, this chip allows excellent access for optical analysis systems. Furthermore, a wide temperature and pressure range along with excellent chemical compatibility makes this microfluidic device ideal for a broad range of microfluidic applications.
For further information on the 1ml Microreactor Chip and the full range of microfluidic capabilities available from Dolomite including pumps, interconnects, chips, valves, etc. please visit www.dolomite-microfluidics.com.
The Dolomite Centre Limited
Dolomite is a global leader in the design and manufacture of microfluidics devices. With offices in the UK, US and Japan and distributors throughout the rest of the world, its clients range from universities developing leading-edge analytical equipment, to manufacturers of chemical, life sciences and clinical diagnostics systems.
Excellent microfabrication facilities that include cleanrooms, precision glass processing facilities and applications laboratories were established with £2m in funding from the UK Department of Trade and Industry’s Micro and Nano Technology (MNT) Manufacturing Initiative. Dolomite’s expertise includes top quality engineering and scientific staff with strong backgrounds across the broad range of disciplines required for success in bringing microfluidics applications to the market, including chemistry, biotechnology, control system development, electronics, physics and instrument design and supply.
Syrris Limited
Established in 2001, Syrris Limited is one of the fastest growing science SMEs in the UK employing over 30 scientists and engineers at its facility in Royston (near Cambridge). Founders Mark Gilligan and Richard Gray come from a background of developing automation products for chemists at companies such as The Technology Partnership (TTP) and Mettler Toledo.
Syrris develops laboratory automation products for chemists such as the Atlas automated chemistry systems. Atlas can be configured into a wide range of different systems including Lithium and Sodium for round bottom flasks (magnetically and overhead stirred respectively) and Potassium for jacketed vessels. Other Atlas systems, designed for specific applications, including calorimetry, volumetric dosing, gravimetric dosing, pH, etc, are also available.
Syrris also specialise in flow reactors for R&D chemists, including FRX: a low cost flow chemistry system and Africa (Automated Flow Reaction Incubation and Control Apparatus): a modular system for library synthesis, aqueous work-up and reaction optimization that will ultimately reduce the time taken to develop, synthesize, screen and review a chemical entity, thus vastly speeding up the drug discovery process.