“Sandwich Reactor” for Heterogeneous Catalytic Processes: N₂O Decomposition as a Case Study

Abstract

A novel "sandwich" microreactor designed as a thin (∼ 300 lm) porous plate of sintered metal fibers (SMF), sandwiched between metallic plates is reported. The SMF surface was coated by Fe-ZSM-5 thin film (< 2 lm) rendering a catalyst highly active in the decomposition of N 2 O. The 3D open microstructure of SMF plates presents a low pressure drop during the passage of reacting gases. The high thermoconductivity of metallic SMF improves the heat transfer, avoiding hotspot formation during exothermic reactions. The temperature measured in the middle and at the outlet of the reactor confirmed the isothermal reactor operation. The sandwich microreactor showed high permeability and a narrow residence time distribution close to an ideal plug-flow reactor. The kinetics of the N 2 O decomposition was studied and the reaction was shown not to be limited by mass transfer when conducted in the microreactor.

The formation of a hydrothermal carbon coating on graphite microfiber felts for using as structured acid catalyst

“…For continuous operation, the macroporous structure of the felt will enable that the liquid reactant can flow through the monolithic felt with low pressure drop. Monolithic pieces of graphite felt can be readily implemented inside microreactor plates [49], thus paving the way for its use in flow chemistry. The carbon felt scaffolding imparts to the composite physical reinforcement, versatility to mould in different macroscopic shapes and additional heat and electric conductive pathways while the hydrothermal carbon layer provides surface to anchor functionalities as demonstrated for sulfonic groups, showing high performance in esterification reactions.…”

Electrochemically dealloyed platinum with hierarchical pore structure as highly active catalytic coating

“…2 3.2 Evolution of pore system, crystallinity and surface composition during dealloying In terms of catalyst volume the surface area of the dealloyed Pt catalyst amounted to ca.…”

Microstructured Al‐fiber@meso‐Al2O3@Fe‐Mn‐K Fischer–Tropsch catalyst for lower olefins

“…In this study, microfibrous structured ironbased FTO catalysts were developed, using a thin-sheet threedimensional (3-D) network of Al-fiber (60-lm) with 90 vol % void volume. Usually metal fiber materials were functionalized by coating perovskites, 29 CNFs, 30 and zeolites 31 to improve the surface area. Frustratingly, these conventional coating procedures lead to pore blocking due to the small fibers and it is difficult to deposit a uniform layer onto all the fiber surface.…”