Pilot plant reactor-surface analysis system

A Pilot Plant Reactor-Surface Analysis System for Catalyst Studies... 

Furthermore, Identical surfaces were found In postmortem analysis of catalyst samples from the pilot plant reactor and the mlnlreactor. These observations provide assurances that the "working" catalyst surface can be examined with the system described here despite the necessary transfer from high pressure feed gas to ultrahlgh vacuum. 

A system has been constructed which allows combined studies of reaction kinetics and catalyst surface properties. Key elements of the system are a computer-controlled pilot plant with a plug flow reactor coupled In series to a minireactor which Is connected, via a high vacuum sample transfer system, to a surface analysis Instrument equipped with XFS, AES, SAM, and SIMS. When Interesting kinetic data are observed, the reaction Is stopped and the test sample Is transferred from the mlnlreactor to the surface analysis chamber. Unique features and problem areas of this new approach will be discussed. The power of the system will be Illustrated with a study of surface chemical changes of a Cu0/Zn0/Al203 catalyst during activation and methanol synthesis. Metallic Cu was Identified by XFS as the only Cu surface site during methanol synthesis. 

---