Mechanochemical Device for Mixing And/or Reacting at Least One Chemical Compound to at Least One Reaction Product

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This invention describes a specialized mechanochemical device for mixing or reacting chemical compounds using ball milling, which is equipped with a dedicated probing chamber (recess volume) that allows for in situ, real-time analytical measurements (such as X-ray diffraction or spectroscopy) of the ongoing reaction. The probing chamber is designed so that milling elements cannot enter, keeping the samples undisturbed for high-quality analysis, while also allowing periodic reintegration of the sample with the main reaction mixture for accurate process monitoring.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Real-time monitoring of chemical reactions during mechanochemical synthesis in research and development laboratories.
• In situ analysis of materials and products in pharmaceutical, materials science, or chemical industries using techniques such as X-ray diffraction or Raman spectroscopy.
• Educational demonstrations of mechanochemistry and reaction progress monitoring.
• Quality control processes where precise, non-invasive analysis of reaction intermediates or products is needed during milling operations.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Provides significantly improved data quality for in situ analytical techniques due to optimized sample chamber design.
• Allows quasi-permanent, real-time observation of reaction progress without disturbing the ongoing ball milling process.
• Prevents analytical interference from milling elements, resulting in high signal-to-noise measurements.
• Enables optimization of both milling efficiency and analytical measurement conditions by allowing different materials for the milling and probe chamber walls.
• Supports better understanding and control of mechanochemical processes, leading to higher yields, improved reproducibility, and potential discovery of new materials or reaction pathways.

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a mechanomechanical device improving the quality of the analytical measurements done by diffraction or other analytical techniques (e.g. spectroscopic ones) during ball milling processes. This objective is achieved according to the present invention by a mechanochemical device (2) for mixing and/or reacting at least one chemical compound to at least one reaction product (4), comprising: a) a grinding container (6) having a milling chamber (7), milling elements (8) and at least one probing chamber (10) wherein the at least one probing chamber (10) is realized as a recess volume (12) of said milling chamber (7) and wherein the recess volume (12) has a cross-sectional opening towards the milling chamber (7) that is smaller than the dimensions of the milling elements (8) preventing the milling elements (8) from entering into the recess volume (12); and b) a motor (14, 16) coupled to the grinding container (6) in order to rotate the grinding container (6) thereby bringing the recess volume (12) at least temporarily into a position allowing a gravitation driven release of the at least one compound and/or the at least one reaction product (4) that entered the recess volume (12) back into the milling chamber. This device enables measurements done in a small part called probe chamber being specifically designed for analytical techniques. The features of the present invention make sure that the reaction product and/or its precursors (the ration strongly depends on the progress of the reaction of the precursors) is quasi-permanently present in the probe chamber which allows for an quasi-permanent analysis on the progress/evolution of the desired mechanochemical-induced reaction.