In order to optimize the use of the DRC(R) data (Differential Reaction Calorimeter commercialized by Setarant SA), Aventis Pharma Safety Laboratories and the Thermokinetic team of Nice Sophia-Antipolis University have developed a software which deconvolutes collected DRC data to assess the real heat flow and determine reagents accumulation. The accuracy of the results given by the DRC is shown for three batch reactions (neutralization, hydrolysis and acylation). The results are very close to those obtained by RCl online heat flow measurements. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.