Abstract: An apparatus and a method for rapidly generating a plurality of isolated effluents have been developed. A specific embodiment involves screening a plurality of solids through simultaneously contacting the members of the plurality with a fluid, simultaneously sampling the resulting fluids, and processing the resulting fluids to, for example, determine changes as compared to the feed fluid or as compared to other resulting fluids.

Abstract: The method and assembly accommodate parallel processing of a plurality of materials such as catalysts simultaneously through use of interactive modules for sizing of material particles to predetermined substantially identical size, for collecting a substantially identical dose of each material, for feeding the dose of each material into a reactor vessel, and for maintaining integrity of the modules, or units thereof, intact during interaction between structures so no particulate material is lost during necessary processing for ultimate efficacy testing in a least compromised manner.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for rapidly generating a plurality of isolated effluents have been developed. A specific embodiment involves screening a plurality of solids through simultaneously contacting the members of the plurality with a fluid, simultaneously sampling the resulting fluids, and processing the resulting fluids to, for example, determine changes as compared to the feed fluid or as compared to other resulting fluids.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for forming an array of powder samples arranged in predefined locations where all samples have a flat surface in a common plane has been developed. A monolithic block having a main support section having at least N perforations from a first surface of the main support through a second surface of the main support in predefined locations, where N is the number of samples in the array is provided. The monolithic block also has a flat support section covering the perforations of the main support section. All N samples are loaded simultaneously with sample X in perforation X of the main support where X is an integer from 1 to N. A flat surface of each sample where the flat surfaces are a common plane is formed by forcing the samples within the perforations against the flat support.

Abstract: A multiple parallel catalytic reactor assembly has been developed. The assembly has (1) a plurality of vessels for containing catalyst, each vessel having an open end and a fluid permeable end; (2) a plurality of bottoms, each bottom having an open end and a closed end with the plurality being supported by a single first support plurality of vessels positioned within the plurality of bottoms; (3) a plurality of tops supported by a single second support with the plurality of tops engaged with the plurality of bottoms to form a plurality of sealed independent reaction chambers; (4) a plurality of first fluid conduits in fluid communication with the reaction chambers; (5) a plurality of second fluid conduits in fluid communication with the reaction chambers; and (6) a plurality of microporous structures in alignment with the open ends of said vessels.

Abstract: A multiple parallel processing assembly has been developed. The assembly has (1) a plurality of vessels for containing material, each vessel having an open end and a fluid permeable end (2) a plurality of bottoms, each bottom having an open end and a closed end with the plurality being supported by a single first support plurality of vessels positioned within the plurality of bottoms; (3) a plurality of tops supported by a single second support with the plurality of tops engaged with the plurality of bottoms to form a plurality of sealed independent chambers; and (4) a plurality of fluid conduits in fluid communication with the chambers.

Abstract: A material treatment assembly comprises a first manifold having an inlet channel a second manifold having an outlet channel, a plurality of chambers in fluid communication with the first and second manifolds so that a fluid flows from the inlet channel through a material in each chamber and into the outlet channel, wherein the material maintains a position with respect to the manifolds, and at least one seal for each of the chambers adapted to permit repeated placement of material. A method for treating material comprises the steps of providing a plurality of chambers, loading material into the chambers, providing an inlet manifold having an inlet channel and an outlet manifold having an effluent channel, sealing the chambers into fluid communication with the manifolds and flowing a fluid from the inlet manifold, though the material and into the effluent manifold.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for rapidly generating a plurality of isolated effluents have been developed. A specific embodiment involves screening a plurality of solids through simultaneously contacting the members of the plurality with a fluid, sampling the resulting fluids, and processing the resulting fluids to, for example, determine changes as compared to the feed fluid or as compared to other resulting fluids.

Abstract: A reactor for conducting catalytic chemical reactions has been developed. The reactor has a housing having an open end and a closed end. The reactor also has a sleeve having a top end and a bottom end. The bottom end of the sleeve is inserted within the open end of the housing. A fluid permeable structure is attached to the sleeve spanning the cross-section thereby defining a chamber between the closed end of the housing and the fluid permeable structure. The reactor also has a reactor insert having a first end and a second end containing a first and a second fluid conduit. The first end of the reactor is inserted within the top end of the sleeve.

Abstract: A process for simultaneously testing a plurality of catalysts using combinatorial chemistry has been developed. The process involves containing the plurality of catalysts in an array of parallel reactors with each reactor containing a bed of catalyst. Each bed of catalyst is then simultaneously contacted, at reaction conditions, with a reactant to form an effluent of each reactor. The reactant or an inert fluid is at a space velocity sufficient to fluidize the catalyst beds. Each of the effluents is analyzed.

Abstract: A process of forming an array of powder samples arranged in predefined locations where all samples have a flat surface in a common plane has been developed. A main support having at least N perforations from a first surface of the main support through a second surface of the main support in predefined locations, where N is the number of samples in the array is provided. The main support is equipped with a flat support temporarily attached to its first surface. All N samples are loaded simultaneously with sample X in perforation X of the main support where X is an integer from 1 to N. A flat surface of each sample where the flat surfaces are a common plane is formed by forcing the samples within the perforations against the flat support. The samples are retained in position within the perforations against the flat support, and are made ready for analysis by exposing the flat surfaces of the samples by removing the flat support.

Abstract: A multiple parallel processing assembly has been developed. The assembly has (1) a plurality of vessels for containing material, each vessel having an open end and a fluid permeable end (2) a plurality of bottoms, each bottom having an open end and a closed end with the plurality being supported by a single first support plurality of vessels positioned within the plurality of bottoms; (3) a plurality of tops supported by a single second support with the plurality of tops engaged with the plurality of bottoms to form a plurality of sealed independent chambers; and (4) a plurality of fluid conduits in fluid communication with the chambers.

Abstract: A process for simultaneously testing a plurality of catalysts using combinatorial chemistry has been developed. The process involves containing the plurality of catalysts in an array of parallel reactors with each reactor containing a bed of catalyst. Each bed of catalyst is then simultaneously contacted, at reaction conditions, with a reactant to form an effluent of each reactor. The reactant or an inert fluid is at a space velocity sufficient to fluidize the catalyst beds. Each of the effluents is analyzed.

Abstract: A process vessel containing both an evaporation zone for evaporating a liquid feed and a treatment zone for treating the resulting vapor comprises an injector having an orifice, the orifice being in the evaporation zone, at least one evaporation surface for evaporating feed and generating vapor, the evaporation surface being located in the evaporation zone, wherein the injector orifice and the evaporation surface are positioned to prevent the formation of a drop at the orifice, a treatment zone for treating the vapor and at least one heater associated with at least a portion of the process vessel.

Abstract: A reactor for evaporating liquid feed and reacting said feed in the presence of catalyst to make product comprises a housing having at least one inlet and at least one outlet and encasing an evaporation zone and a reaction zone, an injector passing through the inlet and having an orifice in the evaporation zone for introducing a liquid feed, an insert containing packing for vaporizing the liquid feed where the packing is in the evaporation zone, a receptacle for retaining catalyst in the reaction zone and at least one heater associated with at least a portion of the reactor, wherein the injector orifice and the packing define a gap between the orifice and the packing sufficiently small to interfere with the formation of a drop at the orifice.

Abstract: A multiple parallel catalytic reactor assembly has been developed. The assembly has (1) a plurality of vessels for containing catalyst, each vessel having an open end and a fluid permeable end (2) a plurality of bottoms, each bottom having an open end and a closed end with the plurality being supported by a single first support plurality of vessels positioned within the plurality of bottoms; (3) a plurality of tops supported by a single second support with the plurality of tops engaged with the plurality of bottoms to form a plurality of sealed independent reaction chambers; (4) a plurality of first fluid conduits in fluid communication with the reaction chambers, and (5) a plurality of second fluid conduits in fluid communication with the reaction chambers.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for rapidly generating a plurality of isolated effluents have been developed. A specific embodiment involves screening a plurality of solids through simultaneously contacting the members of the plurality with a fluid, simultaneously sampling the resulting fluids, and processing the resulting fluids to, for example, determine changes as compared to the feed fluid or as compared to other resulting fluids.

Abstract: A combinatorial process for simultaneously conducting multiple catalytic chemical reactions in parallel has been developed. At least one catalyst is contained in the reaction zones of a plurality of reactors, each reactor having a reactor insert placed within a sleeve and inserted into a well, the reaction zone of each reactor being formed between a fluid permeable structure attached to the sleeve and a fluid permeable end of the corresponding reactor insert. A fluid reactant is flowed through each reactor where it is contacted with the catalyst contained in the reaction zone to form an effluent. The effluents are removed from the effluent from the reactor and are analyzed.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for forming an array of powder samples arranged in predefined locations where all samples have a flat surface in a common plane has been developed. A monolithic block having a main support section having at least N perforations from a first surface of the main support through a second surface of the main support in predefined locations, where N is the number of samples in the array is provided. The monolithic block also has a flat support section covering the perforations of the main support section. All N samples are loaded simultaneously with sample X in perforation X of the main support where X is an integer from 1 to N. A flat surface of each sample where the flat surfaces are a common plane is formed by forcing the samples within the perforations against the flat support.

Abstract: A reactor for conducting catalytic chemical reactions has been developed. The reactor has a well having an open end and a closed end. The reactor also has a sleeve having a top end and a bottom end. The bottom end of the sleeve is inserted within the open end of the well. A fluid permeable structure is attached to the sleeve spanning the cross-section thereby defining a chamber between the closed end of the well and the fluid permeable structure. The reactor also has a reactor insert having a fluid permeable end and a top end containing a first and a second fluid conduit. The fluid permeable end of the reactor is inserted within the open end of the sleeve. The first fluid conduit is in fluid communication with the chamber, and the second fluid conduit is in fluid communication with the fluid permeable end of the reactor insert.