Integrated reaction engineering

There are significant challenges for catalysis to realize these objectives, as detailed in this chapter. There is the need for better integration between bio-, homo- and heterogeneous catalysis, and to foster cross-fertilization between these and contiguous areas (reaction engineering, membrane, etc.). New tools for the synthesis and understanding of these catalysts are need to be developed. 

Integration of biocatalysts into industrial processes and biocatalytic reaction engineering... 

Research tools and fundamental understanding New catalyst design for effective integration of bio-, homo- and heterogeneous catalysis New approaches to realize one-pot complex multistep reactions Understanding catalytic processes at the interface in nanocomposites New routes for nano-design of complex catalysis, hybrid catalytic materials and reactive thin films New preparation methods to synthesize tailored catalytic surfaces New theoretical and computational predictive tools for catalysis and catalytic reaction engineering... 

It is the purpose of this article to present in its entirety one of the early applications of reaction engineering, which was well under way in 1952 before the name Reaction Engineering was even coined. We will describe the laboratory kinetic experiments, the diffusional analysis, the integration of these phenomena into a mathematical process model, its field testing and validation, and subsequent use in process design, modification, control, and optimization. 

It is generally desirable to integrate measurements representing a working catalyst surface with measurements that characterize the activity, selectivity, and/or stability of the catalyst, such as can be determined by use of gas chromatography or mass spectrometry of products. It is important to keep in mind that when a reactor is designed to serve optimally as a cell for measurements of catalyst surface properties, it may not be the kind of ideal reactor that would provide activity, selectivity, or stability data that can be interpreted fundamentally in terms of kinetics and chemical reaction engineering. 

We are looking at catalyst modifications both for improved yield/octane characteristics and for improved steam stability. It has been our experience that new, improved catalysts are an integral part of reaction engineering. To keep processes vital and competitive, it is necessary to continually look for improved catalysts. 

Chemical reactor modeling will be considered first, followed by kinetic modeling, and then the integration of various elements of chemical reaction engineering into a more useful whole. The status of each area will be briefly reviewed. Then current and future frontiers will be discussed, emphasizing those that provide the most challenge and the greatest potential impact. 

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