The ‘Automated Versatile Modular Reactor’: construction and use

Automation of discontinuous elementary operations specific to organic chemistry on a laboratory scale was developed as early as 1970 by the Roussel UclafCompany [1]. A modular system was chosen, because of the diversity of possible operations. Each module governs a simple operation: measuring and comparing a temperature, controlling a pump, etc. These elements communicate with one another through the on-off signal. The direction is provided by a logical programmable wired system. This modular system, Logilap (R), solves numerous problems in automation [2-4].