Avoiding segregation during the loading of a catalyst-inert powder mixture in a packed micro-bed

Daniël van Herk, Pedro Castaño, Massimiliano Quaglia, Michiel T. Kreutzer, Michiel Makkee, Jacob A. Moulijn

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

The optimal loading protocol of a microreactor (catalyst and inert: 0.1 mm, column: 2 mm internal diameter) with a catalyst-inert mixture is fundamentally different from that of a conventional lab-scale reactor (typical values: catalyst, 2 mm; inert, 0.2 mm; column, 10 mm internal diameter). This is shown to be due to segregation, occurring during loading. The following loading procedure has been used: premix the powders, funnel the mixture down, drop it within the reactor, and densify the bed. The average time a particle takes, from the mixing vial to reach its final position, depends on its properties, which in general results in an axially segregated bed. Radial segregation is observed for particles smaller than 60μ m, as a result of electrostatic forces. This paper describes for each handling step how to minimise segregation during the loading of a catalyst-diluent solid mixture. This includes using a funnel with a low-friction and steep wall, minimising difference in velocity of particle-gravity flow, and adding more inert after the mixture, prior to the densification step. The term ρp dp 2 is shown to sufficiently predict segregation due to the velocity difference during gravity flow. Segregation can be observed relatively easily in a glass mock-up reactor. Optimising all the handling steps to minimise segregation results in a visually homogeneous bed. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalApplied Catalysis A: General
Volume365
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 15 2009
Externally publishedYes

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Generated from Scopus record by KAUST IRTS on 2019-08-08

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