Introducing the Asynt April 2026 Chemistry Newsletter:
Tailored plasmonic gold nanoparticles coated with manganese oxide for selective light-driven oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural
It’s great to see Asynt’s parallel position photoreactor, Illumin8, playing a part in a recent photocatalysis study by Robert Wojcieszak et al.
Here, researchers investigated light-driven oxidation of HMF using Au@MnO nanocatalysts. This is available to read via the Asynt Resources Library here: https://www.asynt.com/resources/investigating-light-driven-oxidation-of-hmf/
Illumin8 provided controlled 365 and 450 nm irradiation, giving the team reliable, reproducible conditions to confirm genuine photocatalytic behaviour rather than thermal effects.
“Our Power, Our Planet”
Earth Day 2026 takes place under the theme “Our Power, Our Planet”, a global call to recognise the role individuals and organisations play in supporting clean air, clean water, renewable energy and a more sustainable future.
At Asynt, this message closely reflects the way we approach laboratory life every day. Sustainability is not treated as an add-on. It’s embedded in how we design equipment, support chemists and think about the long-term impact. From reducing water usage through the CondenSyn air condenser range, to enabling safer, cleaner and more efficient chemistry through Flow, Photochemistry and Electrochemistry, our focus is on helping scientists achieve more while using fewer resources.
This year’s Earth Day theme highlights the importance of collective action. In a laboratory context, that power comes from informed choices and practical decisions.
- Selecting waterless technologies.
- Improving energy efficiency.
- Designing robust equipment.
- Supporting chemists who are actively developing greener processes and more responsible routes to scale-up.
These everyday actions add up.
The people behind the science are just as important, though. The ethos at Asynt is built on collaboration, curiosity and shared responsibility. By working closely with customers, academic partners and industry, we aim to support innovation that benefits both chemistry and the wider world.
Earth Day is not about perfection. It’s about intent, progress and accountability. “Our Power, Our Planet” is a reminder that meaningful change happens when people take responsibility for how they work and the impact they have. Asynt is proud to be part of a global chemistry community committed to doing better science in a more sustainable way.
Earth Day is Tuesday, April 22nd, 2026. Major actions start Saturday, April 18th to make participation accessible for working people, students, and families.
Spring Clean Your Lab
Asynt’s April – June 2026 special offers bring a range of cost-saving opportunities across key areas of modern laboratory research, from pressure chemistry to sustainable lab practices and photochemistry.
Chemists can benefit from a Multicell parallel high-pressure reactor supplied with a free Asynt hotplate, while the versatile DrySyn Core (ADS500-KIT-A) heating block kit is available with 20% off, providing a safer and more sustainable alternative to oil baths.
Flow photochemistry users can take advantage of the FlowUV inline full spectrum UV-Vis spectrophotometer designed to monitor reactions in real time. The system has been successfully demonstrated in the work of Professor Anna Slater at al exploring the chemistry of porphyrins, highlighting its value for advanced photochemical synthesis and in situ reaction analysis.
For reliable temperature control, the full range of Valegro recirculating chillers from Julabo is available with 10% discount.
Sustainable chemistry remains a priority with the CondenSyn waterless condenser range continuing the popular Q1 offer (buy 5, get 1 free), helping laboratories eliminate cooling water consumption.
Finally, researchers exploring LED photochemistry can benefit from the Lighthouse platform promotion – receive 50% off a second light source, enabling greater flexibility when optimising photochemical reactions.
Flow Chemistry Europe: Shaping The Future Of Flow Chemistry
Andrew Mansfield and Cameron Fordham will be representing Asynt at Flow Chemistry Europe this April. The event takes place on the 16th and 17th April 2026 at the Hotel Barceló Málaga, Spain.
Flow Chemistry Europe combines a strong scientific programme with an exhibition of the latest technologies and innovations. It’s a great opportunity to learn from leading experts, network with peers and see cutting edge approaches to continuous and photochemical processing.
Andrew and Cameron will be on the ground throughout both days, showcasing Asynt’s latest Flow Chemistry and Photo Flow devices discussing real applications, system configurations and how our platforms support research and development.
We’re looking forward to being part of this excellent event and to catching up with customers, collaborators and new contacts alike. If you’d like to book a meeting with Andrew during Flow Chemistry Europe, please let us know and we’ll schedule a time that works for you.
For more details and to see the full programme, click below:
If you’d like to know anything further about any article in this months chemistry newsletter, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
