Further development of the Purdue Automated Synthesis System
Abstract
The ultimate goal of any robotic project is to perform operations accurately, precisely, and without interruption. This goal in relation to the Purdue Automated Synthesis System (PASS) suggests that PASS should perform repeated organic reactions without an error until the experiment is finished. Although this goal sounds simple, many factors influenced the operation of PASS. It has been the objective of this research to identify these factors and minimize errors which occur because of them. PASS consists of many units which make up the whole system. These units include: automated reactors, an automated solvent delivery system, an automated syringe cleaning system, a reagent stockroom, an automated balance, an automated gas chromatograph (GC) and high pressure liquid chromatograph (HPLC), two robots, a vial dispenser station, a vial identification station, a vortex mixer, a plug filtration station, and a vial transport system. These units are orchestrated with four 8-bit computers which take direction from a 16-bit computer. Since creating a complex system, like PASS, requires the efforts of a team of individuals, this thesis describes in detail only some aspects of PASS. Chapter 1 introduces PASS-2 and the methodology for performing experiments using PASS. Chapter 2 describes the integration of a HP 5890 GC into PASS. Chapter 3 discusses the operation of the CHCKPASS control software. Chapter 4 examines the operation of the automated solvent delivery system. Chapter 5 investigates the operation of PASS as the system optimizes the stereo selective alkylation of N-(diphenylmethylene)glycinate-t-butyl ester using a chiral phase transfer catalyst. Chapter 6 details the modifications necessary to control a Zymate peripheral using a microcomputer. Chapter 7 presents a variety of topics important to PASS. Chapter 8 is an evaluation of PASS.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Fuchs, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Analytical chemistry
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