Industrial catalysts are complex materials subject to continuous refinement to enhance process efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Catalysts that allow greater feedstock flexibility, decrease energy consumption, increase selectivity or provide an extended lifetime have an important role to play in improving the sustainability of the oil and chemical industry. In a commercial heterogeneous catalyst, the inclusion of additives such as binders, fillers, porogens and plasticisers converts the active phase(s) and support into a robust product with well-defined geometry and performance. Because the majority of catalyst components are powders, effective powder processing is a prerequisite for efficient catalyst manufacture.
Haldor Topsøe, Lyngby, Denmark, is a global leader in high performance catalysts and proprietary technology for the chemical and refining industries with a portfolio of more than 150 commercial catalysts. The company has applied powder characterisation, specifically using the FT4 Powder Rheometer® from Freeman Technology, to enhance design protocols for catalyst manufacturing equipment and improve raw material choice. By identifying powder properties that correlate closely with performance in transportation processes, the company has developed robust criteria for equipment selection that minimise the cost of new plant. In addition, the ability to screen raw materials more effectively reduces the risk of an unplanned shutdown, a significant source of inefficiency in many powder processes.
“Powder Testing Boosts Catalyst Making” by Ninna Halberg Jokil (Haldor Topsøe) and Jamie Clayton (Freeman Technology), was featured in Chemical Processing, and features:
- Catalyst Manufacture
- Establishing a Design Protocol
- Refining Raw Material Selection
Please click here for more information on the FT4 Powder Rheometer.