>KNF Flodos' diaphragm pump technology enters a number of areas that include printers, fuel cells, medical diagnostics and the automotive industries.
Central to their offering is their Stepdos range, which offers medium size pumps of 30 or 80ml/minute. Constructed with Teflon heads, these are the only pumps of this size available with completely inert pumping heads.
Both Stepdos pumps are RS-232 compliant, so the software can be used in automated experiments. Liquiport pumps can also be used as transfer pumps between larger reactors of 1L to 10L.
They are very easy to use, and have Teflon or fluorinated plastic pump heads, so they too are chemically inert.
The Stepdos 03, is a microprocessor-controlled diaphragm metering pump equipped with a solenoid valve and a stepper motor. It can be used in either RUN-Mode or DISPENSE-Mode and meters continually (+/- 2 per cent) at low rpm. The pump is enclosed in a compact protective housing (IP65).
Likewise the Stepdos 08 is similar in function and additionally features an improved flow rate of 0.08 - 80ml/min
"It is important to have pumps of the right size for this kind of work, and having good control is much safer too, especially with very exothermic reactions," said Csaba Urbaniczky, process research and development scientist at AstraZeneca.
"To develop full-scale manufacturing processes, we need to start with a fundamental understanding of the process on a laboratory scale. Pumps are used in pilot plants and in full-scale production, therefore it is useful to be able to simulate this environment in the laboratory."
Urbaniczky is also using Liquiport pumps, which can also be used as transfer pumps between larger reactors of 1 L to 10 L. They feature Teflon or fluorinated plastic pump heads, so they too are chemically inert.
There are four diaphragm liquid pumps in the Liquiport range, which serve as a multi-purpose liquid pump ideal for aspirating or transferring liquids.
There are two sizes of pump with flow rates, which can be adjusted between 0.2 and 3l/min and suitable for system pressures up to 6bar.