Africa and Design of Experiments

Reaction optimisation work using traditional techniques can be complex, time consuming and expensive, but is a vital part of the development of all chemical processes. One approach is the use of statistical experimental design (DoE). This application note gives some guidance on DoE and it’s use with the Africa system.

In chemical processes, many factors will affect the overall performance of the reaction including temperature, time, stoichiometry, reagent choice, concentration etc. Classically, the chemist would look at the effect of these by varying one factor whilst maintaining the all others at a fixed levels, then choose the best level and repeat with the other factors (OFAT- One Factor At a Time).