Degussa Integrates High-Throughput Catalyst Preparation and Testing for Fixed Bed Catalysts Development
07 March 2005
Degussa's Business Line Catalysts has integrated high-throughput preparation and screening into the development programme of fixed bed catalysts. This completes our strategy to be the preferred solution partner throughout the chain of catalyst development for both slurry and fixed bed technologies.
High-Throughput Catalyst Preparation by Robot
High-throughput screening of catalysts demands a large amount of preparative work, which can easily become a bottleneck. To solve this problem, Degussa has developed a synthesis robot based on the "Accelerator Synthesizer" platform, in co-operation with Chemspeed Ltd. This unique robot is able to produce different types of catalyst in parallel, ranging from impregnated supported catalyst to co-precipitated mixed metal oxides. A generous sample size of 5 to 15 grams guarantees a smooth scale up and adaptation to commercial production, both of which are prerequisites for a successful development programme.
ReacToCat®
The catalysts prepared by the synthesis robot can be efficiently tested in well-established and reliable screening reactors, i.e. parallel multi-tube reactors. Business Line Catalysts also offers high-throughput screening services as part of the catalyst development programme, in co-operation with Degussa's reaction engineering department. Even the complete process engineering, including process design, pilot plant testing, and pre-engineering are all available within the ReacToCat® service package.
From First Ideas to Commercial Catalysts
In addition to Degussa's well-established scale-up and commercialisation services, high-throughput catalyst preparation and screening now complete the chain of development. Starting from the first idea or basic process design, a fast and reliable evaluation of possible catalysts can be carried out quickly by means of high-throughput preparation and screening. In the next step, Degussa takes care of the scale-up and commercialisation of the catalyst. At the last stage of development, the reaction engineering part can be included as part of Degussa's ReacToCat® service package.
