Abstract: A method for reacting a plurality of materials in parallel within a reactor vessel having a plurality of reaction wells formed therein. Each of the reaction wells has an open end exposed to a common pressure chamber defined by the reactor vessel. The method includes opening a cover of the reactor vessel, inserting components into the reaction wells, closing the cover of the reactor vessel to create a sealed chamber, supplying a gas substantially above atmospheric pressure that reacts with the components within the reaction wells, and releasing pressure from the reactor vessel.

Abstract: A needle assembly has a first body and a guide rod supported for sliding movement between an extended position and a retracted position. A second body is attached to the guide rod. The second body is relatively farther from the first body when the guide rod is in the extended position and relatively closer to the first body when the guide rod is in the retracted position. The guide rod is biased to the extended position. The second body supports a venting needle that extends beyond the second body by a fixed length. A liquid handling needle is coupled to the first body. Sliding movement of the guide rod toward the retracted position retracts the second body and the venting needle relative to the liquid handling needle.

Abstract: A system for monitoring infrared absorption of each of a plurality of materials contained in an array has an infrared transparent substrate for the array of materials. An infrared radiation source irradiates the materials in the array with infrared radiation. An infrared detection system monitors material absorption of the infrared radiation by the materials. A method of monitoring the infrared absorption spectrum of a library of materials includes synthesizing an array of material on a substrate. The materials are irradiated with infrared radiation and the absorption of the infrared radiation by the materials is monitored for each material.

Abstract: A dissolution and precipitation system includes an array of reactors. Each reactor has a mother well and a daughter well having a volume between about one microliter and one milliliter. A fluid transfer system is operable to transfer fluid between the mother well and daughter well and purify the fluid that is transferred to the daughter well from the mother well. A method of testing a plurality of samples includes dissolving a plurality of first solids in each of the mother wells to form a plurality of first solutions in the mother wells. The first solutions are purified in the reactors. The first solutions are distributed from the mother wells to one or more daughter wells. A plurality of second solids are precipitated in the daughter wells and the second solids are analyzed.

Abstract: Ligands, compositions, and metal-ligand complexes that incorporate heterocycle-amine compounds are disclosed that are useful in the catalysis of transformations such as the polymerization of monomers into polymers. The catalyst have high performance characteristics, including higher comonomer incorporation into ethylene/olefin copolymers, where such olefins are for example, 1-octene, propylene or styrene. The catalysts also polymerize propylene to form isotactic polypropylene.

Abstract: Ligands, compositions, and metal-ligand complexes that incorporate heterocycle-amine compounds are disclosed that are useful in the catalysis of transformations suchas the polymerization of monomers into polymers. The catalyst have high performance characteristics, including higher comonomer incorporation into ethylene/olefin copolymers, where such olefins are for example, 1-octene, propylene or styrene. The catalysts also polymerize propylene to form isotactic polypropylene.

Abstract: Copolymers of an olefin or alpha-olefin and a cyclic olefin where the cyclic olefin comprises greater than 50 mole percent by weight of the copolymer have been discovered. These copolymers have unique properties, including low density, high chemical resistance, low elongation to break, low shrinkage, good processability, low water absorption and good clarity. The copolymers also may be used as an engineering plastic. A process for making these copolymers is also disclosed, with the process comprising reaction of the olefin or alpha-olefin with the cyclic olefin under polymerization conditions including a catalyst comprising a metal-ligand complex having a bridged bi-phenyl phenol ligand structure.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a dispensing unit suitable to precise! dispense material in powder and/or granular form. The dispensing device comprises a gate valve opening sealingly closed by a blend. A control unit, which is interconnected to a scaling device, controls the opening of the gate valve opening by the position of the blend. The precise amount of the material is adjusted in relation to the signal of the scaling device.

Abstract: The invention relates to liquid chromatography techniques for rapidly characterizing samples, such as polymer solutions, emulsions and dispersions, and to devices for implementing such techniques. The system includes a design that provides the ability to perform chromatographic separations by using mobile phase composition gradients and temperature gradients during separations. The invention accomplishes this by providing mixing zones for a plurality of fluids as well as heated and chilled feeds feeding the fluids to the mixing zones. Additionally, the system provides the ability to analyze separated components with a detector and/or collect separated fractions into vessels of a fraction collector for further separation and/or analysis.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for combinatorial (i.e., high-throughput) materials research, such as catalysis research, that involves parallel apparatus for simultaneously effecting mechanical treatments such as grinding, mixing, pressing, crushing, sieving, and/or fractionating of such materials are disclosed. The methods and apparatus are useful for mechanically treating catalysis materials and other solid materials, including without limitation, electronic materials such as phosphors, colorants such as pigments, and pharmaceuticals such as crystalline drugs or drug candidates. The simultaneous protocols and parallel apparatus offer substantial improvements in overall throughput for preparing arrays of materials, such as catalysis materials.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the heats of reaction of an array of materials has an infrared transparent substrate containing the materials. A reaction chamber encloses the substrate. At least one reactant gas is coupled to the reaction chamber through a valve. An infrared camera images the array of materials. The camera outputs signals corresponding to an infrared emission intensity of at least one activated material in the array. A system for characterizing chemical reactions has an infrared transparent substrate for containing an array of materials. A modulated infrared radiation source simultaneously irradiates the materials in the array with infrared radiation. An infrared camera has a focal plane array detecting infrared radiation. An optical element focuses the infrared radiation transmitted by the array of materials onto the focal plane array. A processor coupled to the camera transforms sequential intensity profiles of the detected infrared radiation into infrared spectra using Fourier analysis.

Abstract: A fuel cell electrocatalyst that contains platinum, indium, and at least one of tungsten, iron, and manganese.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to cerium compositions and methods for making such metal oxide compositions, specifically, such metal oxide compositions having high surface area, high metal/metal oxide content, and/or thermal stability with inexpensive and easy to handle materials.

Abstract: A method and catalysts and fuel processing apparatus for producing a hydrogen-rich gas, such as a hydrogen-rich syngas are disclosed. According to the method, a CO-containing gas, such as a syngas, contacts a platinum-free ruthenium-cobalt water gas shift (“WGS”) catalyst, in the presence of water and preferably at a temperature of less than about 450° C., to produce a hydrogen-rich gas, such as a hydrogen-rich syngas. Also disclosed is a platinum-free ruthenium-cobalt water gas shift catalyst formulated from: a) Ru, its oxides or mixtures thereof, b) Co, Mo, their oxides or mixtures thereof, and c) at least one of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Ti, Zr, Cr, Fe, La, Ce, Eu, their oxides and mixtures thereof. The WGS catalyst may be supported on a carrier, such as any one member or a combination of alumina, zirconia, titania, ceria, magnesia, lanthania, niobia, zeolite, perovskite, silica clay, yttria and iron oxide. Fuel processors containing such water gas shift catalysts are also disclosed.

Abstract: A robotic workstation includes apparatus for actuating one or more syringes. Each syringe has a cylinder and a plunger movable in the cylinder. A programmable robot has at least one syringe actuating device. The actuating device has a holder for holding and releasing a syringe cylinder and an actuator movable relative to the holder. A coupling couples the actuator to the plunger of the syringe such that, when the cylinder is held by the holder, movement of the actuator relative to the holder causes the plunger to move in the cylinder. A method of dispensing a material into a container includes robotically moving at least one syringe to a position for dispensing into a container. The plunger is robotically moved in the cylinder to dispense material from the syringe into the container. The workstation suitably includes a mixing apparatus for mixing materials in an array of containers at the workstation.

Abstract: A system for monitoring infrared absorption of each of a plurality of materials contained in an array has an infrared transparent substrate for the array of materials. An infrared radiation source irradiates the materials in the array with infrared radiation. An infrared detection system monitors material absorption of the infrared radiation by the materials. A method of monitoring the infrared absorption spectrum of a library of materials includes synthesizing an array of material on a substrate. The materials are irradiated with infrared radiation and the absorption of the infrared radiation by the materials is monitored for each material.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a parallel batch reactor for effecting chemical reactions includes a plurality of reactor vessels for receiving components of a reaction, an inlet port for receiving pressurized fluid, and a plurality of valves configured to transfer fluid from the inlet port to the reactor vessels and fluidically isolate one or more of the reactor vessels from at least one of the other reactor vessels. The reactor further includes a pressure monitoring system comprising an array of pressure sensors configured to sense pressure in the reactor vessels. Each of the pressure sensors is aligned with one of the plurality of reactor vessels and located external to the reactor vessels and fluid passageways in fluid communication with the reactor vessels.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a parallel batch reactor generally includes a plurality of reactor vessels and a plurality of valves configured to allow flow into the reactor vessels when a gas is supplied to the reactor at a pressure higher than a pressure within the reactor vessels and restrict flow from the reactor vessels. A method includes inserting chemical components into the reactor vessels, supplying a first gas to the reactor vessels to pressurize the reactor vessels, stopping supply of the first gas, and supplying a second gas to the reactor at a lower pressure than a pressure within the reactor vessels. The second gas passes through the valves and into the reactor vessels when the pressure within the reactor vessels drops below the pressure of the second gas.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a parallel batch reactor for effecting chemical reactions includes a vessel block comprising reactor vessels for receiving components of a reaction and a valve block removably attached to the vessel block. The valve block includes a first plurality of valves in fluid communication with an inlet port for supplying pressurized fluid to the reactor vessels and configured to fluidically isolate one or more of the reactor vessels from at least one of the other reactor vessels. The valve block further includes a second plurality of valves in fluid communication with the reactor vessels for injecting chemical components into the pressurized reactor vessels or sampling chemical components from the pressurized reactor vessels. The vessel block and valve block are configured to sustain an operating pressure of at least 15 psig.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus implementing techniques for separating and/or analyzing fluid mixtures. The techniques employ microfluidic separation devices that include an inlet port for receiving a fluid feed stream, a microscale fluid flow channel in fluid communication with the fluid inlet port, a phase equilibrium control region located along the fluid flow channel for controlling conditions including temperature and/or pressure to provide a thermal equilibrium, a capillary network in the temperature control region, a first outlet port in indirect fluid communication with the fluid flow channel through the capillary network, and a second outlet port in direct fluid communication with the fluid flow channel. A plurality of microfluidic separation devices can be coupled in fluidic communication to provide for separation of complex mixtures. The systems, methods and apparatus can be used to characterize fluid mixtures.