Kinetic Determination

The micro reaction calorimeter can be used for determination of reaction kinetics.  Two different methods of determination are shown below for reactions with different rate constants.

Slow reactions
Batch reactions can be conducted where all the reactants are first loaded into the calorimeter.  The heat-flow of the process is then measured at several temperatures and the kinetics of the process are then determined by use of standard techniques.

The example shown above is a quasi-first order process (because of the excess of one of the reactants).  The rate constant can then be determined by using a standard arrhenius plot.

These data have been measured by Prof A.Beezer, Dr M.O'Neill and Dr S.Gaisford at the University of London School of Pharmacy on a standard sensitivity Micro Reaction Calorimeter.

Fast Reactions
Faster reactions can be studied using semi-batch type operation.  All the reactants bar one (usually the smallest volume substrate) are placed in the reactor and then the last material is injected sequentially into the system.  As the calorimetric signal is directly proportional to the reaction conversion (see below).

This direct proportionality enables the rate of reaction to be rapidly determined.  Successive injections of substrate into a single reaction vessel will show changes in kinetics consistent with the consumption of the starting material and can immediately highlight any issues with catalyst deactivation or product inhibition.  Complex studies of this type have been conducted by THT staff in conjunction with Prof. Donna Blackmond (Imperial University, London).

 

Further Information
Further information on the mRC™ including technical papers and brochures can be accessed here

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Sample Testing
Samples can be examined using the mRC either for screening or more detailed analysis as part of our sample testing service.

Spares and Consumables
Spares, consumables and upgrades for the mRC™ can be found here.