Catalyst Discovery via High-Throughput Experimentation

The methods of combinatorial chemistry which were developed to speed the synthesis and discovery of pharmaceutical active compoimds, have recently been adapted for catalyst development. Techniques are apphed that quickly generate a vast collection of compounds that might be catalyTically active, a so-called library of catalysts. 

High-throughput experimentation combines advanced miniaturized, automated and parallel experimental methods together with computational techniques to provide a faster and more efficient route to better, cheaper and more environmentally friendly products and processes. High-throughput experimentation increases the rate of materials discovery and development up to 1000-fold. However, there must also be developed techniques for 

With increasing demand for shorter time to market, including shorter development times in the laboratory and pilot plant stage, such tools need be available for an accelerated development of catalytic processes. 

In practice it has been proven useful to define two stages in high-throughput screening of catalysts. Table 13-20 lists the distinctive feamres of the two different stages. 

Stage I Maximum sample throughput Reduced information (-/0/+) Analysis of target conpounds Used for new discoveries Parallel and quasi-parallel techniques IR thermography Photoacoustic deflection Adsorption techniques Sequential techniques Mass spectrometry MS 

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