Alfa Laval’s ART LabPlate is a modular continuous flow reactor (see IBO 8/31/08) consisting of two flow-directing plates, each with a process and utility channel on opposite sides, inserted into a compact frame. The LabPlate has a flow range of 2 mL–40 mL/min. What distinguishes it from other continuous reactors is its use of plate heat exchangers, according to Martin Jonsson, Sales and Marketing manager, Alfa Laval Reactor Technology.

The LabPlate can be used for many types of reactions. “The secret behind the LabPlate is the modular design of the plates and the port system,” said Mr. Jonsson. “The two plates combined provide for 18 connections to the LabPlate.” Each of the plates are connected, so one can have the same utility flow in series or parallel, or have different utility flows on separate plates. “All connections between the two plates are external, and a high number of variations can be achieved by just changing the positions of the connection pipes,” Mr. Jonsson told IBO. Reactions performed in the LabPlate can be scaled up to the ART Plate Reactor production units because the range of plate reactors relies on hydrodynamics mixing and heat transfer.

Currently, Alfa Laval is gearing their efforts for the LabPlate toward the fine and specialty chemicals market within the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. The LabPlate costs four times less than the company’s previous entry-level plate reactor, the ART PR37, and has been available since the end of 2010.