ChemSCAN Parallel Reactor Platform

Bench-top system for automated screening and development of heterogeneous (or homogeneous) catalytic, parallel reactions at pressures of up to 200 bar and temperatures up to 200 °C, with an optional sub-ambient range down to −40 °C

The ChemSCAN controls reaction pressures and temperatures independently in each reactor, while determining the amount of gas consumed. Designed for reactions including hydrogenation, carbonylation, syngas chemistry as well as other challenging workflows, it accelerates discovery while reducing hands-on time.

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Chemist loading reactor vessels into a H.E.L ChemSCAN parallel high-pressure reactor system
Up to 8
Independent reactors
Up to 200 bar
Pressure (100 bar standard)
−40 to 200 °C
Temperature (sub-ambient optional)
Real-time
Gas uptake per vessel
Fully customisable
Configured to your chemistry

Screening data

Every curve below comes from a single ChemSCAN experiment. That is the point of parallel screening — eight conditions in the time one would normally take.

Eight concentrations, one run. Hydrogenation of 1-chloro-4-nitrobenzene in methanol at 4 bar, from 1 to 8% w/v. Each curve is a separate reactor. Different completion time in each reactor corresponds to the different amount of starting material; the final pressure is proportional to the feed amount.
Eight temperatures, one run. Hydrogenation of nitrobenzene at fixed pressure, with each reactor held at a different temperature. Uptake rate rises with temperature while the endpoint stays the same.

Tap any chart to enlarge.

Key features

What the platform does on the bench, reactor by reactor.

Independent temperature control

  • Independent temperature control in each vessel
  • A difference of over 100 °C between reactors can be set in the same run
  • Optional sub-ambient operation down to −40 °C with a circulator

Individual pressure control

  • Individual pressure control, allowing tests at different pressure
  • Reactors can be set to different start pressures

Real-time gas uptake

  • On-line gas consumption calculation and display, in each reactor
  • Watch the kinetics as they happen rather than infer them afterwards

Agitation

  • Excellent mixing – enabling heterogeneous and homogeneous catalytic gas–liquid reactions
  • The mixing rate is such that gas uptake is mostly kinetic controlled, allowing scale up with confidence

Control system

  • Software control and data logging
  • Real time gas uptake display for each reactor
  • Automated control sequence includes all inert purges as well as reactive stages

High-pressure liquid addition

  • Fully automated, up to a pressure of 200 bar (3000 psi)
  • Accuracy of around 0.05 mL or better

ChemSCAN 4 and 8

  • All three configurations are available in 4- and 8-reactor designs
  • 8-reactor takes 16, 25 and 50 mL vessels
  • 4-reactor accommodates 500 mL and smaller

Three configurations

The classic ChemSCAN described above is also available in two other configurations. All three share the same reactors, heating, agitation and software — what changes is how pressure is controlled and how independently each reactor can be run.

H.E.L ChemSCAN high-pressure reactor vessels in a range of sizes
Vessels from 16 to 500 mL
H.E.L ChemSCAN parallel high-pressure reactor system
H.E.L ChemSCAN high-pressure reactor head with thermocouple and feed lines
Reactor head, thermocouple and feed lines

One platform, three levels of automation

 
 
 
Semi-automatic

ChemSCAN SA

All the features of the classic ChemSCAN, except that pressure is controlled manually rather than by computer-controlled solenoid valves. Two gas feeds, shared across the reactors.

Automatic

Classic ChemSCAN

Automated, independent pressure control across all reactors for reproducible parallel screening. Reactions start together and vent automatically once all reactions are complete, with up to three gas feeds shared across the reactors.

Fully automatic

ChemSCAN+

Maximum flexibility with independent control of every reactor. Start, feed, vent and purge each reactor independently, with up to three dedicated gas feeds per reactor for fully independent experiments.

ChemSCAN systems can be customised to requirements. Talk to a specialist about a configuration for your chemistry.

Key specifications

Reactors 4 or 8, independently controlled
Vessel volumes 4-reactor: 16, 25, 50, 75, 125, 300 or 500 mL
8-reactor: 16, 25 or 50 mL
Working volume 3 – 400 mL, or from 2 mL on the ChemSCAN+
8-reactor: 3 – 40 mL
Vessel material 316 stainless steel or Hastelloy C276
Vessel rating 200 bar, 350 °C
Temperature Ambient to 200 °C, or 25 – 200 °C on the ChemSCAN+
Down to −40 °C with a circulator
Pressure 1 – 100 bar, 200 bar optional
Gas feeds ChemSCAN SA: 2, shared
ChemSCAN: 3, shared
ChemSCAN+: 3, individual
Agitation 120 – 1500 rpm, magnetic or overhead
Liquid feed Optional — 0.02 – 40 mL/min @ 100 bar, 0.01 – 20 mL/min @ 200 bar
Sampling Optional port on the reactor lid
Gas uptake sensitivity 0.04 mmol, equal to a 0.1 bar pressure change

Software, control & safety

ChemSCAN runs on a user-friendly interface designed for both new and experienced users, with real-time monitoring and automation via live sensor data and feedback control. A predefined gas-uptake workflow is included for quick setup and consistent analysis, and a flexible protocol builder lets you save custom workflows — from simple runs to complex sequences.

Automatic, user-configurable reaction-detection and shutdown procedures protect the operator, with a compact manifold for easy manual purge and pressurization. Automatic hardware and software fail-safes are installed on every system, alongside built-in interlocks and emergency pressure relief.

See our application notes for worked ChemSCAN examples.

Applications

Catalyst screeningHydrogenationCarbonylationSyngas chemistryHeterogeneous catalysisProcess optimisationScale-up

Frequently asked questions

What is ChemSCAN used for?
The ChemSCAN family is a range of parallel high-pressure reactor systems for catalyst screening, reaction optimization and high-throughput experimentation — running up to eight independently controlled reactors at once. Three platforms are available: ChemSCAN SA (semi-automatic), ChemSCAN (automatic) and ChemSCAN+ (automatic, with independent gas control on every reactor).
What is the difference between ChemSCAN SA, ChemSCAN and ChemSCAN+?
Automation, gas feeds and how the reactors operate. ChemSCAN SA is semi-automatic and upgradable — independent temperature and stirring in every zone, with pressure, feeds and venting controlled manually, and each reactor operating independently. ChemSCAN is automatic, with the reactors operating simultaneously under a shared, automated gas feed. ChemSCAN+ is automatic with each reactor operating independently, so it can be fed, vented and purged on its own. Gas feeds follow the same pattern: two shared feeds on the SA, three shared on the ChemSCAN, and three independent feeds on the ChemSCAN+. All three run up to 8 zones.
Is it automated?
It depends on the platform. ChemSCAN and ChemSCAN+ are automated, with feedback control for efficient, reproducible research; ChemSCAN+ adds independent pressure and gas control per reactor. ChemSCAN SA gives semi-automatic control — independent temperature and stirring with manual pressure profiling — as a lower-cost route into parallel screening. (H.E.L also offers manual high-pressure screening via the separate CAT reactor range.)
How many reactions can it run in parallel?
Up to 8 independently controlled reactor zones, each with real-time gas-consumption measurement. For low-volume screening, 4-zone platforms also take the CAT 18 and CAT 24 assemblies, giving 18 or 24 vials at 0.2 – 1.3 mL.
What pressure and temperature can it reach?
Up to 200 bar (100 bar standard), and ambient to 200 °C — −40 °C is available as an option with a circulator.
What volumes does it handle?
Vessels are 16, 25, 50, 75, 125, 300 or 500 mL on the 4-reactor platform, and 16, 25 or 50 mL on the 8-reactor. Working volume runs from 3 mL to 400 mL on the ChemSCAN SA and ChemSCAN, and from 2 mL on the ChemSCAN+. For lower volumes still, 4-zone platforms take the CAT 18 and CAT 24 assemblies at 0.2 – 1.3 mL.
Is it customisable to my chemistry?
Yes. Vessel material (316 stainless steel or Hastelloy C276), volumes, agitation and compatibility with H.E.L CAT systems are all configured to your process. Customisation is central to H.E.L’s approach.

Selected publications

Benzene hydrogenation utilizing organometallic early transition metal precursorsReece Johnson et al. · Catalysis Science & Technology · 2024First Total Synthesis and Structural Confirmation of C13-Butylrubber OligomersFabrizio Minicone et al. · European Journal of Organic Chemistry · 2018Production of Biomass-Based Automotive Lubricants by Reductive EtherificationJadhav et al. · ChemSusChem · 2017

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Catalysis Accelerated: How the H.E.L ChemSCAN is Revolutionizing High-Pressure ResearchRead article →Why Supported Catalyst Screening Systems Matter More Than Ever in 2026Read article →Hydrogenation: How we can make it saferRead article →

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“…we are very satisfied… the handling and programming is quite easy. It is for this reason that we bought a second HP ChemSCAN.” — Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse (LIKAT Rostock), 8 years

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