Fundamental catalyst characterization in situ with FR-series flow reactors
- Pulse chemisorption and TPx (TPR, TPD, TPSR, TPO) analyses without removing the catalyst from the reactor
- High-sensitivity thermal conductivity detector (TCD) to monitor changes in the concentration of gases flowing into and out of the reactor.
- Internal cold trap for the removal of condensable fluids (e.g. water produced during reduction of oxides)
Comprehensive Catalyst Characterization
The Micromeritics in-situ Catalyst Characterization System (ICCS) is an advanced catalyst characterization tool that allows the user to study the impact of a reaction on critical parameters such as number of active sites, under precisely controlled, process-representative conditions.
A standalone accessory designed to complement any dynamic laboratory reactor system, such as the Flow Reactors (FR-100 or FR-200), the ICCS adds two new capabilities: Temperature Programmed Analyses (TPx) and Pulse Chemisorption.
These well-known and time-tested techniques may now be performed on a fresh catalyst and then repeated on a used catalyst without removing the material from the reactor. This enables a detailed comparison of the catalyst, notably the number of active sites, before and after use. Users benefit from obtaining both temperatures programmed analyses and pulse chemisorption data for the same aliquot of sample used for reaction studies. Performing these analyses in-situ virtually eliminates the possibility of contamination from atmospheric gases and moisture which may damage the active catalyst and compromise data integrity.
Principle of Operation
The typical operation of the ICCS begins with loading of the catalyst into the reactor system. The catalyst may then be characterized by the temperature programmed methods; temperature programmed reduction (TPR) is commonly used for supported metal catalysts while temperature programmed desorption (TPD) may be the best choice for acidic or basic catalysts. The TPx is often followed by pulse chemisorption to determine the number of active sites. This use of TPx and pulse titration provides a description of the fresh (unused) catalyst under representative conditions (notably at elevated pressure).
