Process automation laboratory

The application of solid catalysts in microreactors has been studied for different processes. Automated laboratory systems were applied for catalyst screenings [53,54]. Ag/Al and Ag/Al203 were applied in microflow-through reactors for the partial oxidation of ethylene [55]. For catalytic applications, a microflow-through arrangement with a static micromixer was used to prepare Au/Ag nanoparticles [56]. Microfluid segments are also of interest for catalytic reactions in microreactors [57]. 

The development section serves as an intermediary between laboratory and industrial scale and operates the pilot plant. A dkect transfer from the laboratory to industrial-scale processes is stiH practiced at some small fine chemicals manufacturers, but is not recommended because of the inherent safety, environmental, and economic risks. Both equipment and plant layout of the pilot plant mirror those of an industrial multipurpose plant, except for the size (typically 100 to 2500 L) of reaction vessels and the degree of process automation. 

The RC1 is an automated laboratory batch/semi-batch reactor for calorimetric studies which has proven precision. The calorimetric principle used and the physical design of the system are sound. The application of the RC1 extends from process safety assessments including calorimetric measurements, to chemical research, to process development, and to optimization. The ability of the RC1 to generate accurate and reproducible data under simulated plant scale operating conditions may result in considerably reduced testing time and fewer small scale pilot plant runs. 

NASA has designed and contracted a water testing, purification, and retest (certification) system that is a self-contained unit about the size of a small automobile. Human involvement is restricted to putting hose A into a puddle, polluted stream, saltwater bay, or almost any other liquid source, and to drinking pure water from liose B. The fully automated laboratory (and processing) system is intended for an eventual Mars base. It is currently used on navy ships and some desert warfare army units. 

In the 1990s the major focus was on system validation, on assuring the quality control (QC) of the hardware and software that operated the manufacturing process, automated the laboratories, and controlled the inventory. As that validation process achieved mainstream acceptance and majority saturation it is appropriate to ask What next Where can we and the regulators most productively next turn our attention to maintain continuous quality improvement ... 

Only applied originally in the pharmaceutical industry, automated synthetic methods have spread quickly into the research for new agrochemicals, other speciality chemicals, catalysts and new materials. It is also being used increasingly in process development laboratories coupled with statistical experimental design. 

The process of laboratory automation begins vhen you have clearly identified the things that you want to achieve, and why you want to achieve them. Those "things" should not be couched in phases like "I want to automate the. ..", but rather "I need faster sample turnaround", or "...more sophisticated data analysis routines will...". As far as the "why ", at some point you are going to have to justify the project, and its cost in terms of time, money, and people. 

WlO. Westlake, G., McKay, D. K., Surh, P., and Seligson, D., Automatic discrete sample processing automation in a clinical laboratory based on discrete sample handling and computerised data processing. Clin. Chem. 15, 600-610 (1969). 

Types of liquid processing steps used to automate laboratory assays include continuous-flow and discrete processing. 

We begin this section with discussions of the roles that workstations, instrument clusters, and workceHs have in laboratory automation, followed by discussions of specimen transportation, automated specimen processing, automated specimen sorting, and automated specimen storage and retrieval subsystems. 

Figure 11-9 Example of a workstation configured with a duster of unlike instruments and robotic specimen processing that could be useful in remote automated laboratories or in small outpatient laboratories. (From Boyd jC, Felder RA, Savory J. Robotics and the changing face of the clinical laboratory. Clin Chem 1996 42 1901-10.)...

This list of tasks is not necessarily complete but demonstrates the complexity of the software engineering task of integrating automation in a laboratory. Although the functions of the LIS and LAS are often provided on separate computers, they may also be integrated on a single computer. Several manufacturers (e.g., MDS AutoLab, Odysis, and Zymark) have process control software that can manage many functions in an automated laboratory. However, the... 

Integrating ERMS with automated laboratory information systems and clinical and nonclinical trials databases is a critical issue. Records and documents can come from laboratory devices as well as word processing, spreadsheet, database, e-mail, and web-based applications. An ERMS must integrate all of these functions into a cohesive workflow that prevents unauthorized access and logs all activity in an FDA compliant audit trail. 

Thus several of these researchers have begun to think about designing process-oriented healthcare information systems that adjust naturally to changes in resources and organizational structures. Computer-interpretable models based on clinical workflows have already been implemented within the context of specific different fields, such as stroke and cancer therapy. A snapshot of part of an automated laboratory workflow is in Table 7.1.2 These authors as well as others have considered special kinds of networks for healthcare workflow that issue simple reminders and serve as an organizer in a healthcare office environment in which duties are widely shared. 

Figure 19.2. Resource exploitation in automated laboratories The different resources (gray boxes) can be used by either automated systems (yellow area) or laboratory personnel (blue area).The process of laboratory work-procedures can be managed by the means of computer technology (information logistics) as well as automation technology (sample logistics).

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