Oscillating droplet reactor – towards kinetic investigations in heterogeneous catalysis on a droplet scale

Torsten Klement,Schirin Hanf,Thorsten Röder,Stephan A. Schunk,Norbert Kockmann,Fabian Wolff

doi:10.1039/d0re00466a

Abstract

In this work we present a new concept of a millistructured capillary reactor setup for contactless kinetic measurements via in-line Raman spectroscopy for three phase reactions in single slugs.

Highlights

Around 80% of our today's chemicals are produced in catalytic processes, from which most involve the use of heterogeneous catalysts.[1]
In this work we present a new concept of a millistructured capillary reactor setup for contactless kinetic measurements via in-line Raman spectroscopy for three phase reactions in single slugs
Multiple measurements were carried out and a good reproducibility was achieved, which lays the foundation for the application of this 3-phase oscillating droplet reactor as a tool for assessing kinetics with respect to heterogeneously catalysed three phase reactions

Summary

Introduction

Around 80% of our today's chemicals are produced in catalytic processes, from which most involve the use of heterogeneous catalysts.[1]. The oscillation concept for the measurement of reaction kinetics is extended towards a 3-phase system, in which the catalyst is present either in the form of a non-porous fibre or as a fixed catalyst bed of a defined particle size (Fig. 1).[24] This concept combines the advantages of a batch autoclave, namely the flexibility, and the pros of a microreactor, such as the defined reaction conditions. To demonstrate the feasibility of the oscillating droplet reactor concept as a tool for obtaining kinetic data, the hydrogenation reactions of nitrobenzene and of cinnamaldehyde were selected as exemplary test reactions.

Results

Conclusion