Inert fluid path components for flow chemistry applications

Critical fluid path components

clean flow chemistry system fittings

Chemically resistant fluid path components with a minimum void (or so called "dead") volume are crucial for setting up an efficient and clean flow chemistry system.

Some of the most crucial components are:

  • Fittings
  • Tubing
  • Reactor vessels
  • Pumps
  • Back pressure regulators

Fittings

Chemical resistance and high-quality materials are crucial for designing a void volume free and chemically resistant and reliable fitting system. The PEEK™ cased ferrules with an ETFE sealing surface from Dibafit™ provide these characteristics. They are designed for leak-free security and zero dead volumes only introducing chemically resistant materials into the fluid path.

During installation, the ferrule is being permanently attached to the tubing. This provides the connection security needed for handling any aggressive or corrosive chemicals in a flow chemistry lab. The PEEK cased ferrule recesses into the Omni-Lok™ fitting nut for optimal thread engagement, which may be required in some shallow connection ports often found in some equipment.

The PEEK-cased ferrules are also compatible with Gripper and Click-N-Seal™ fitting nuts:

  • for 1/16" and 1/8" OD tubing
  • for 1/4"-28 (UNF) and M6 flat bottom connection ports
  • ideal with Omni-Lok fitting nuts
  • compatible with Gripper and Click-N-Seal fitting nuts
  • pressure rating: 800 psi (56 bar) for 1/16" OD tubing, 600 psi (42 bar) for 1/8" OD tubing

Flow Selection Valves

Omnifit 3-way manifold and valve

The range of flow selection valves from Omnifit® Labware includes simple shut-off valves as well as three- and eight-port manifolds for flow stream mixing. This enables easy setup of complex flow systems and sophisticated flow stream control. Each valve body is made of chemically resistant ETFE. The valves and manifolds are suitable for a pH range from pH 1-14. They are pressure rated up to 50psi (3.3bar) All connectors have a 1.5mm bore and can be used for flow-splitting, mixing and fluid line interconnection. The blue connector cap allows users to tightly connect semi-rigid tubing with a variety of OD's, either using a standard 1/4"-28 (UNF) fitting or utilizing the supplied connector cones.

PTFE tubing

PTFE tubing

PTFE tubing is suitable for most chemists to set up their flow reactor system. Because fluoropolymers are almost universally inert to industrial chemicals and solvents, they are widely used in today’s chemical laboratories. With few exceptions, fluoropolymer tubing can handle many corrosive chemicals in use today.

  • 1/16", 1/8", 3/32" OD (1.6mm, 3.2mm and 4.7mm OD)
  • 0.3mm, 0.5mm, 0.8mm 1.0mm, 1.5mm, 3.2mm ID
  • 20m and 200m lengths

We also offer a variety of tubing materials with different physical and chemical properties and in various sizes.

Pump systems

Depending on the application, there is a variety of pump options to operate a flow chemistry system. Pumps offering the best flexibility are peristaltic pumps. Chemical resistance and compatibility with chemicals depend only on the chosen tubing material. They offer multiple channels to transport several flow streams at once.

Back-Pressure Regulators

Upchurch Scientific BPR assemblies

Upchurch Scientific® BPR assemblies create incremental back pressures ranging from 5 to 1,000 psi (0.3 to 69 bar). The line of back pressure regulators is designed to be used with corrosive reagents: materials of construction are PEEK, ETFE, perflouroelastomer and gold-plated stainless steel. A back-pressure regulator is made of a housing (PEEK) with an exchangeable BPR cartridge. The cartridges are made of PEEK, perflouroelastomer and gold-plated stainless steel. The wetted materials of the fittings are also made of PEEK. The fittings contain a stainless-steel lock ring (not wetted) which can be replaced with an inert 1/4"-28 flat bottom fitting (see above), if the reagents require to do so.