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Read Assay -> Match Spec -> Cost Check -> Recommend -> Route

Solvent Recovery Reuse Advisor

For each recovered-solvent lot, the agent compares the lab assay to the specs of upcoming batches and recommends reuse as is, reuse with a virgin top up, or discard. It names the batch to route the lot to and estimates the money saved against buying virgin. A supervisor reviews the match and approves before any lot moves.

The Problem

Good solvent went down the drain. Marginal solvent went into the batch on a guess.

Recovered solvent comes back from the still with a lab assay nobody has time to cross-check against every upcoming batch. So the safe move wins: dump it and buy virgin. On a busy week that is thousands of liters of usable solvent gone. When someone does reuse it, it is often a guess about whether the assay fits the next batch's spec.

What Changes

Every recovered lot matched to a batch, or discarded for a reason.

The agent takes each recovered lot's LIMS assay and checks it against the spec of every upcoming batch and step. It recommends reuse, reuse with a calculated virgin top up, or discard, names the batch to send it to, and shows the spec match and the saving versus virgin. A supervisor reviews and approves before the lot is routed.

Humans stay in control: The agent matches assays to batch specs and shows the saving and the reasoning. Your supervisor confirms the match and approves the route. No lot moves and no solvent is dumped on the agent's word.

HOW THE AGENT WORKS

TRIGGERLLMAPIDECISIONACTIONWAIT
TRIGGERNew recovered lot assayFires when LIMS posts an assay result for a recovered-solvent lot.
APIPull upcoming batch specsReads solvent specs for upcoming batches and steps from ERP and the recipe store.
APIRead tank inventory and costGets the lot volume in tank and the virgin solvent cost from ERP.
LLMMatch assay to specsCompares the assay against each upcoming batch spec and finds candidate matches.
DECISIONMeets spec as is?
LLMSize top up or discardIf off-spec, calculates a virgin top up to reach spec, or recommends discard.
LLMEstimate saving and reasonWorks out the money saved versus virgin and writes the spec-match reason.
ACTIONRoute for supervisor approvalSends the routing recommendation and saving to the supervisor channel for sign-off.
The agent does not move solvent or route a lot. Your production supervisor does. The agent removes the guesswork on which assay fits which batch.

HOW TO BUILD IT

Three levels of depth. Pick the one that matches where you are.

For the ops person who needs to understand what's involved and brief their team.

Your LIMSRecovered solvent assays
The AgentWorkflow engine + LLM
Supervisor approval channelRouting recommendation and saving

WHAT YOUR TEAM PROVIDES ONCE

  • LIMS assays - recovered solvent lot test results
  • Product and step specs - solvent purity limits per batch
  • Production schedule - upcoming batches and their timing
  • Virgin solvent cost - current purchase price per liter
  • Tank inventory - recovered lot volumes and locations
What happens day-to-day: When the lab posts an assay for a recovered lot, the agent checks it against every upcoming batch spec and finds where it fits. It recommends reuse, a virgin top up, or discard, names the batch, and shows the money saved. The supervisor reviews the match and the number, then approves. The lot gets routed to the batch or held, based on a signed decision.

For the IT person or technical lead who needs to scope the integration.

INQUIRY SOURCES

LIMS assays
ERP schedule and cost
Batch and step specs

WORKFLOW ENGINE (N8N)

Assay posted trigger
Pull specs and schedule
Match assay to batches
Meets spec check
Size top up or discard
Estimate saving
Route for approval

CONNECTS TO

LIMS (LabWare / LabVantage)Read: recovered lot assays. Write: none
ERP (SAP / Tally / Oracle)Read: schedule, virgin cost. Write: routing log
Recipe / spec store (MES / spreadsheet)Read: solvent specs per batch. Write: none
Notification channel (Teams / Slack / email)Read: none. Write: recommendation, approval request
WITHOUT PMS API

From a LIMS assay export and a spec spreadsheet it still recommends reuse or discard, with the supervisor entering the virgin cost by hand. Fewer live matches, still useful.

WITH PMS API

Connected to LIMS, the ERP schedule and cost, and the recipe specs, the agent matches every recovered lot to a batch and prices the saving the moment the assay lands. Best experience.

For the person who wants to build this agent step by step. Each node below maps to an n8n workflow node.

TRIGGERNode 1
Trigger - watch LIMS
n8n Webhook or Schedule node polling LIMS for new recovered-solvent assay results.
Output: { lot_id, solvent, assay_purity_pct, water_ppm, volume_l }
APINode 2
API - pull specs and cost
HTTP Request to ERP and recipe store for upcoming batch solvent specs, timing, and virgin cost.
Output: { batches: [{ batch_id, min_purity_pct, max_water_ppm, need_by }], virgin_cost_per_l }
LLMNode 3
LLM - match, top up, saving
LLM node (Claude) comparing the assay to each batch spec, recommending reuse, top up, or discard, and pricing the saving.
Output: { recommendation, route_to_batch, top_up_virgin_l, blended_purity_pct, saving_usd, reason, requires_approval }
You are a solvent reuse advisor for a chemical plant. Given a recovered-solvent lot assay and the specs of upcoming batches, recommend reuse as is, reuse with a virgin top up, or discard, and name the batch to route the lot to.

Recovered lot: {lot_id}, solvent {solvent}
Assay: purity {assay_purity_pct} percent, water {water_ppm} ppm, volume {volume_l} L
Upcoming batches and specs: {batches_json}
Virgin solvent cost per liter: {virgin_cost_per_l}

Pick the earliest-needed batch whose spec the lot can meet, as is or with a virgin top up. If a top up is needed, calculate the virgin volume to reach the minimum purity. Estimate the saving versus buying the same volume virgin. If no batch fits, recommend discard. Do not move or route any solvent.

Respond ONLY with valid JSON. No explanation.
INPUT
Lot RS-88, acetone, purity 96.5 percent, water 1800 ppm, volume 900 L. Batches: B-1201 needs min purity 98 percent max water 2000 ppm by 2026-08-20; B-1188 needs min purity 95 percent max water 3000 ppm by 2026-08-22. Virgin cost 1.40 per L.
OUTPUT
{"lot_id":"RS-88","solvent":"acetone","recommendation":"reuse_with_top_up","route_to_batch":"B-1201","top_up_virgin_l":180,"blended_purity_pct":98.2,"saving_usd":1008,"reason":"At 96.5 percent the lot misses B-1201's 98 percent minimum; 180 L virgin lifts the blend to 98.2 percent and clears water at 1800 ppm.","requires_approval":true}
DECISIONNode 4
Decision - reusable match found?
IF node: if a batch match exists route to costing and approval, else mark the lot for discard review.
Output: { match_found: true|false }
ACTIONNode 5
Action - route for approval
Send the recommendation, saving, and reason to the supervisor via Slack/Teams/email with an approve/adjust step.
Output: { sent: true, channel, awaiting_approval: true }
MVP vs Advanced — Where To Start
MVP — START HERE
  • Assay and specs from CSV
  • Batch specs in a spreadsheet
  • Manual entry of virgin cost
  • Single LLM node for match
  • Email routing recommendation to supervisor
  • Supervisor approves in the thread
ADVANCED — ADD LATER
  • =+ Live LIMS assay trigger
  • =+ ERP schedule and cost pull
  • =+ Recipe specs synced from MES
  • =+ Tank inventory volume check
  • =+ Top-up math node before LLM
  • =+ Approved routes logged to ERP

Full Video Walkthrough Coming Soon

One recovered lot, from lab assay to an approved reuse route.

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Frequently asked questions

Solvent Recovery Reuse Advisor is an AI agent that matches recovered solvent to upcoming batches, recommends reuse, top up, or discard.
Good solvent went down the drain. Marginal solvent went into the batch on a guess. The Solvent Recovery Reuse Advisor addresses this: matches recovered solvent to upcoming batches, recommends reuse, top up, or discard.
No. Your team stays in control. The agent does not move solvent or route a lot. Your production supervisor does. The agent removes the guesswork on which assay fits which batch.

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