Robotics microwave-assisted

As already mentioned above, a different strategy to achieve high throughput in microwave-assisted reactions can be realized by performing automated sequential microwave synthesis in monomode microwave reactors. Since it is currently not feasible to have more than one reaction vessel in a monomode microwave cavity, a robotic system has been integrated into a platform that moves individual reaction... 

Torres et al. [342] found that a microwave-assisted robotic method for trace metals in soil decreased sample digestion times from two hours to three minutes. 

As noted earlier, not all open-vessel systems (viz. those that operate at atmospheric pressure) are of the focused type. A number of reported applications use a domestic multi-mode oven to process samples for analytical purposes, usually with a view to coupling the microwave treatment to some other step of the analytical process (generally the determination step). Below are described the most common on-line systems used so far, including domestic ovens (multi-mode systems) and open-vessel focused systems, which operate at atmospheric pressure and are thus much more flexible for coupling to subsequent steps of the analytical process. On the other hand, the increased flexibility of open-vessel systems has promoted the design of new microwave-assisted sample treatment units based on focused or multi-mode (domestic) ovens adapted to the particular purpose. Examples of these new units include the microwave-ultrasound combined extractor, the focused microwave-assisted Soxhlet extractor, the microwave-assisted drying system and the microwave-assisted distillation extractor, which are also dealt with in this section. Finally, the usefulness of the microwave-assisted sample treatment modules incorporated in robot stations is also commented on, albeit briefly as such devices are discussed in greater detail in Chapter 10. 

Other publications with a sample treatment component of relevance are those by Burguera et al. (1995, Determination of iron and zinc by on-line microwave-assisted mineralization and flow-injection graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry) Torres et al. (1995, Microwave-assisted robotic method for the determination of trace metals in soil) and Burguera et al. 

Torres P, Ballesteros E and Luque de Castro MD (1995) Microwave-assisted robotic method for the determination of trace metals in soil. Anal Chim Acta 308 371-377. 

From the foregoing discussion, the technology for microwave-assisted organic synthesis with organic solvents (under pressure if necessary) is now employed extensively and routinely in chemical discovery, organic synthesis, and medicinal chemistry [16, 17]. Microwave reactors have found niche applications in the production of intermediates, flavors and fragrances, specialty chemicals, and pilot-scale manufacture. Units capable of parallel or sequential operation, some of which may be operated robotically and remotely, are employed around the clock in industrial chemical discovery. 

Equipment Fully automated X-Y robot using a single-mode microwave-assisted solid-phase peptide synthesizer (Syro Wave , Biotage AB). 

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