Description
Several pump technologies are used in flow chemistry, each suited to specific flow rate ranges and chemical environments. HPLC-type reciprocating piston pumps (with dual-head designs for pulsation cancellation) are the workhorse of laboratory flow chemistry, capable of flow rates from 0.01 mL/min to 100 mL/min with ±0.5% accuracy. For higher flow rates (100 mL/min to 10 L/min) at pilot and production scale, peristaltic pumps with PTFE or Marprene tubing are used where wetted material compatibility is paramount and modest pulsation is acceptable, or gear pumps with PEEK/Hastelloy construction for non-corrosive high-viscosity streams. Syringe pumps provide the highest precision at very low flow rates (0.001–50 mL/min) at the expense of finite syringe volume, making them suitable for catalyst solutions, initiator additions, or other low-volume high-value streams where continuous operation is not required or is achieved through automated refilling sequences.
For corrosive chemical streams (HCl, HF, HNO₃, NaOH), magnetically coupled or peristaltic designs that eliminate shaft seals are strongly preferred. The pump controller should support closed-For corrosive chemical streams (HCl, HF, HNO₃, NaOH), magnetically coupled or peristaltic designs that eliminate shaft seals are strongly preferred. The pump controller should support closed-loop flow control (via inline Coriolis flow meter feedback for high-accuracy mass flow delivery), ramp and step programming for reaction optimisation, and remote control via analogue 4–20 mA or digital RS232/Modbus interfaces for integration with the flow chemistry control platform.
Key Features
- Thin-film geometry eliminates inner filter effect — uniform irradiation throughout
- Wavelength-selectable LED modules for reaction optimisation
- LED light sources — narrow band, low heat, 50,000 hr lifetime
- Integrated cooling eliminates temperature rise from irradiation
- Access to full range of photoredox catalysis reactions (Ru, Ir, organic photocatalysts)
- Scalable by module numbering-up without geometry change
- Orders-of-magnitude faster than batch photochemistry at equivalent scale
- Compatible with standard flow chemistry pump and back-pressure regulator platforms
Technical Specifications
| Pump Technologies | Reciprocating dual-head piston, syringe, peristaltic, gear, diaphragm |
| Flow Rate Range | 0.001 mL/min (syringe) to 10 L/min (production piston) |
| Flow Accuracy | ±0.5% of setpoint (piston); ±1% (peristaltic) |
| Pulsation | <2% ripple (dual-head designs with pulse dampener) |
| Wetted Materials | PTFE, PFA, PEEK, SS 316L, Hastelloy C-276, sapphire, ruby |
| Maximum Pressure | Up to 500 bar (HPLC-type); up to 20 bar (peristaltic/gear) |
| Viscosity Range | 0.3 mPa·s to >10,000 mPa·s (gear and progressive cavity pumps) |
| Control Interface | Analogue 0–5 V or 4–20 mA, RS232, Modbus, OPC-UA |
| Certifications | ATEX Zone 1/2 variants available; FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliant displays |
| Optional Features | Integrated Coriolis flow feedback, pressure relief, dry-run protection |
Industrial Applications
- Primary reagent feed to microreactors and tubular reactors
- Catalyst and initiator addition at low flow rates with high precision
- Quench reagent delivery proportional to reactor outlet flow
- Solvent and diluent addition for inline concentration adjustment
- Gas–liquid back-pressure-compensated liquid delivery
- GMP-validated continuous manufacturing pump systems
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Submit your reaction parameters, operating pressure, temperature range, and material compatibility requirements. Our engineering team will recommend the appropriate configuration.