AutoLAB | Bench-Top Automated Reactor System

H.E.L’s fully customizable AutoLAB reactor platforms are designed, configured, and tailored to meet your specific process and application requirements.  The modular and highly adaptable nature of the system enables the platform to evolve with your research and development interests.

Controlled by H.E.L’s powerful control software platform, the AutoLAB supports a diverse range of applications, such as:

  • Polymerization
  • Crystallization
  • Synthesis
  • High- and low-pressure reactions
  • Process optimization
  • Kilo-pilot/production plant scale-up

H.E.L Group has been developing bespoke reactor solutions for the chemical R&D community for more than three decades, so if your work requires functionality that is not listed, please contact us.

Chemical Synthesis Specifications

Chemical Synthesis Brochure

Features and Options

Vessel Types and Volumes

  • Vessels from 500 mL to 20 L are available in both glass and metal.

Temperature Control

  • -50 ⁰C to 250 ⁰C as standard (circulator dependent) with additional options to increase the range of -90 ⁰C up to 350 ⁰C (circulator dependent).

High Pressure and Vacuum Systems

  • The AutoLAB has a high-pressure configuration that supports the study of reactions at elevated pressure.

Sampling Systems

  • Through active pumps, manual dip tubes, automated level control, or multisampling units.

Reagent Addition

  • Through fully automated liquid and gas feeds as well as volumetric syringe pumps. These solutions can be applied to both high and low-pressure systems.

Control Options

  • All relevant inputs can be logged, enabling automated monitoring and, where appropriate, feedback control of the reactor system

Sensor Options

  • Temperature, pressure, pH, turbidity, conductivity
  • Integration of third-party probes is possible, such as in-situ FTIR, particle sizing probes, and Raman probes.

Stirring Available

  • Up to 2000 rpm/400 Ncm and are supplied in a wide range of materials and designs

Intelligent Software Control and Analysis

  • Control software enables regular data logging, multi-step recipes, parameter control, and feedback loops.

Safety Features

  • Include automatic user-configurable reaction limits and shutdown procedures, to ensure user safety.
  • Automatic hardware and software fail-safes are installed on every system

Publications

The following are a list of some technical publications which highlight the use of the equipment.

The role of adsorption in decomposition of dyes on TiO2 and N-modified TiO2 photocatalysts under UV and visible light irradiations

Kamila Bubacz, Beata Tryba, Antoni W. Morawski

11-Jun-2023

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025540812004771(Subscription or purchase maybe required for full access)


Measuring the Particle Packing of l-Glutamic Acid Crystals through X-ray Computed Tomography for Understanding Powder Flow and Consolidation Behavior

T. D. Turner*, P. Gajjar, I. S. Fragkopoulos, J. Carr, T. T. H. Nguyen, D. Hooper, F. Clarke, N. Dawson, P. J. Withers, and K. J. Roberts

12-May-2020

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.cgd.9b01515(Subscription or purchase maybe required for full access)


Measuring the Particle Packing of L-Glutamic Acid Crystals through X-ray Computed Tomography for Understanding Powder Flow and Consolidation Behavior

T. D. Turner,* P. Gajjar, I. S. Fragkopoulos, J. Carr, T. T. H. Nguyen, D. Hooper, F. Clarke, N. Dawson, P. J. Withers, and K. J. Roberts

12-May-2020

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.cgd.9b01515(Subscription or purchase maybe required for full access)


Concentration and Separation of Heavy Rare-Earth Metals at Stripping Stage

Olga Cheremisina, Vasiliy Sergeev , Alexander Fedorov * and Daria Alferova

01-Dec-2019

https://doi.org/10.3390/met9121317(Subscription or purchase maybe required for full access)


Fast Method for Testing the Photocatalytic Performance of Modified Gypsum

Magdalena Janus, Kamila Zając, Clemens Ehm and Dietmar Stephan

15-Aug-2019

https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/9/8/693(Subscription or purchase maybe required for full access)


Improved Self-Cleaning Properties of Photocatalytic Gypsum Plaster Enriched with Glass Fiber

Kamila Zając, Magdalena Janus, and Antoni W. Morawski

22-Jan-2019

https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/12/3/357(Subscription or purchase maybe required for full access)


Empirical Kinetics Equation of the Synthesis of NTO in Nitric Acid

Yun Zhao, Shusen Chen, Shaohua Jin, Lijie Li, Xiaoyan Dong, Ruoting Xing, Zhiyan Lu, Qiaoe Liu, Wei Li, Bo Zhang

22-Jul-2016

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/prep.201500334(Subscription or purchase maybe required for full access)


Methyl tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-glucopyranuronate: crystal structure and influence on the crystallisation of the β anomer

John A. Hayes, Kevin S. Eccles, Simon E. Lawrence, Humphrey A. Moynihan

01-Mar-2016

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carres.2016.01.012(Subscription or purchase maybe required for full access)


Demonstrating the Influence of Solvent Choice and Crystallization Conditions on Phenacetin Crystal Habit and Particle Size Distribution

Denise M. Croker,*,† Dawn M. Kelly,‡ Danielle E. Horgan,‡ B. Kieran Hodnett,† Simon E. Lawrence,‡ Humphrey A. Moynihan,‡ and Åke C. Rasmuson†

30-Jan-2015

https://doi.org/10.1021/op500308x(Subscription or purchase maybe required for full access)


Reduction of CO2 by adsorption and reaction on surface of TiO2-nitrogen modified photocatalyst

B. Michalkiewicz, J. Majewska, G. Ka̧dziołka, K. Bubacz, S. Mozia and A. W. Morawski

01-Jan-2014

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcou.2013.12.004(Subscription or purchase maybe required for full access)


Cellulose-TiO2 nanocomposite with enhanced UV–Vis light absorption

Antoni W. Morawski, Ewelina Kusiak-Nejman, Jacek Przepio ́rski, Roksana Kordala, Juliusz Pernak

01-Mar-2013

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-013-9906-6(Subscription or purchase maybe required for full access)


Decomposition of 3-chlorophenol on nitrogen modified TiO2 photocatalysts

Sylwia Mozia, Kamila Bubacz, Magdalena Janus and Antoni W. Morawski

28-Nov-2011

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304389411014683(Subscription or purchase maybe required for full access)


ReactNMR and ReactIR as Reaction Monitoring and Mechanistic Elucidation Tools: The NCS Mediated Cascade Reaction of α-Thioamides to α-Thio-β-chloroacrylamides

David A. Foley, Christopher W. Doecke, Jonas Y. Buser, Jeremy M. Merritt, Linda Murphy, Marie Kissane, Stuart G. Collins, Anita R. Maguire, and Andreas Kaerner

26-Oct-2011

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/jo201212p(Subscription or purchase maybe required for full access)


Crystal Polymorphs and Transformations of 2-Iodo-4-nitroaniline

Dawn M. Kelly, Kevin S. Eccles, Curtis J. Elcoate, Simon E. Lawrence, and Humphrey A. Moynihan*

01-Sep-2010

https://doi.org/10.1021/cg1001418(Subscription or purchase maybe required for full access)


In Situ Measurement of Solution Concentration during the Batch Cooling Crystallization of l-Glutamic Acid using ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy Coupled with Chemometrics

Antonia Borissova,† Shahid Khan,† Tariq Mahmud,*,† Kevin J. Roberts,† John Andrews,‡ Paul Dallin,‡ Zeng-Ping Chen,§ and Julian Morris

01-Dec-2008

https://doi.org/10.1021/cg7010265(Subscription or purchase maybe required for full access)


On-line monitoring of batch cooling crystallization of organic compounds using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy coupled with an advanced calibration method

Zeng-Ping Chen, Julian Morris, Antonia Borissova, Shahid Khan, Tariq Mahmud, Rado Penchev and Kevin J. Roberts

25-Nov-2008

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169743908002050(Subscription or purchase maybe required for full access)


Particle Shape Characterisation via Image Analysis: from Laboratory Studies to In-process Measurements Using an in Situ Particle Viewer System

Rui Fa Li Radoslav Penchev Vasuki Ramachandran Kevin J. Roberts* Xue Z. Wang Richard J. Tweedie, Andy Prior Jan W. Gerritsen, Fred M. Hugen

01-Jul-2008

https://doi.org/10.1021/op800011v(Subscription or purchase maybe required for full access)


Real-Time Measurement of the Growth Rates of Individual Crystal Facets Using Imaging and Image Analysis: A Feasibility Study on Needle-shaped Crystals of L-Glutamic Acid

X. Z. WangJ. Calderon De AndaK. J. Robert

01-Mar-2008

https://doi.org/10.1205/cherd06203(Subscription or purchase maybe required for full access)


Monitoring and Feedback Control of Supersaturation Using ATR-FTIR to Produce an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient of a Desired Crystal Size

Vincenzo Liotta* and Vijay Sabesan

01-May-2004

https://doi.org/10.1021/op049959n(Subscription or purchase maybe required for full access)


Automated Measurement of Metastable Zones for Pharmaceutical Compounds

A.R. Parsons, S.N. Black and R. Colling

11-Mar-2003

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0263876203723570(Subscription or purchase maybe required for full access)


Downloads

The following are a list of available downloads.

Chemical Synthesis Specifications

Chemical Synthesis Brochure

Theravance Logo

start quote My experience with H.E.L dates since 2005. During these years H.E.L was the provider of the most important lab equipment with the help of which I developed many different API pharmaceutical processes in the companies l worked for including Merck, Pfizer, and Theravance. The versatility of the automated lab reactors (AutoLAB), the ease of use of and the accuracy of the TSu and Simular systems, as well as the flexibility of the PolyBLOCK made my work much easier and accurate. I would like to mention the great relationship I established with the service engineers and the sales people at H.E.L. With their help I was able to customize the software and the hardware of the equipment to our specific needs. This readiness to accommodate each customer’s specific needs gives H.E.L the edge over their competitors and makes them the preferred vendor for pharmaceutical lab equipment. start quote

Theravance Inc – USA

Queens University Belfast

start quote Three years ago we were developing a new catalytic process in collaboration with an industrial partner. It was essential to commission a reliable battery of glass reactors, built to our exact specification. We have decided to choose H.E.L’s AutoMATE II batch reactors array. We received professional advice, reactors built to specification, and a very thorough on-site training. The associated software is very intuitive and user-friendly. All issues occurring during the intensive use of the equipment were resolved quickly by the very helpful team at H.E.L. Last year, we have successfully progressed to a scale-up phase, for which we commissioned a custom-build AutoLAB reactor, with two exchangeable reaction vessels. Again, on all stages of ordering, manufacture and operation of the new reactor, the H.E.L staff were very helpful and made sure that their product was best suited to our needs. start quote

Belfast, Northern Ireland - Queen’s University

Wildlife Pharmaceuticals

start quote I have to compliment the project manager. She handled the installation and on-site training very professionally. It was so nice to have a person that truly understands the system/product that is being installed. The overall support and advice from H.E.L was very good and we cannot be more satisfied with this or with the reactor itself. start quote

Wildlife Pharmaceuticals - South Africa

Qatar University

start quote As a research active faculty member at Qatar University in chemical engineering with research fund that has a limited lifetime, I searched for specialist reactor suppliers around the world who would not only sell but also advise customers on their specific needs for the budget available. I was fortunate to select H.E.L in the UK and it started with an email query on a glass reactor for a tricky reaction system. That email was followed by a series of phone conversations to identify accurately my needs within my budget. I was particularly impressed by the speed of response and honest, impartial advice. I got what I wanted and when my research assistant encountered issues with the equipment during the warranty period, the spare parts were shipped very quickly, thus saving my research team precious time. H.E.L staff are professionals and trustworthy. As a research professor, I definitely recommend H.E.L for queries and purchases for intricate glass reactors for serious research work start quote

Qatar University - Doha, Qatar

University of Szeged logo

start quote We were looking for a high pressure-high temperature reactor system with real time monitoring system to in-situ study our reactions. H.E.L came up with a system that suited our needs and budget. The reactor came with a software that records all the data during the process and it is easy to use. During installation we had a three-day course on the basics of the equipment and the software. “We got the service we asked for. start quote

University of Szeged - University of Szeged