Catalysts open reactor examinations

With aim to examine catalysts by the Bray-Liebhafsky reaction system as the matrix, two examples, one in the closed and the other in the open reactor, will be given in the following. 

Batch Mode - Batch reactions have also been carried out to examine the decomposition of polymers in the presence of catalysts. The polymer and the catalyst are both placed in the reactor, and the reactor is immersed in a molten metal bath or a fluidized sand bath at a given temperature for a specified period of time. In some cases, a shaking apparatus is used to promote contact of the catalyst, the polymeric reactant and the decomposition products. After the reaction time is complete, the reactor is opened, and the reaction products are typically analysed by chromatographic techniques. For example, in order to probe the full range of decomposition products, we developed an analytical... 

The information from the open system (no recycle) was used to establish a base case. At each plant startup following a catalyst change, the plant is run at base-case conditions. If the same reactor performance is not obtained, the catalyst and flow pattern in the reactor are examined. Problems of reactor performance are resolved before continuing plant start-up. 

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