Applications of High Throughput Research at the Dow Chemical Company

With high throughput research (HTR), a new research approach towards the development of catalysts and materials has been established at The Dow Chemical Company. While drawing on many of the same concepts as combinatorial chemistry, HTR introduced a new set of specific challenges. New workflows needed to be developed for catalyst and material preparation, activity screens, product and process analytical as well as the management of large amounts of data. Integration of the workflow is critical and requires appropriate skills from such fields as chemistry, engineering, materials, analytical, robotics and informatics. It is not simply having a HTR capability that matters, but what one does with the capability that counts the most. The paradigm shift that has occurred at Dow as a result of HTR will allow Dow to deliver solutions to customers faster than ever. This will be illustrated by several examples of how the HTR capability has had a major impact at Dow.