• Catalyst and Process Chemistry Testing A-Z
• Process Chemistry and Catalyst Analysis
• Catalyst Characterization and Reaction Studies

Catalysts are designed to increase and promote chemical reaction rates, yet the catalyst remains unchanged. In reality, catalysts will suffer degradation and other changes, usually detrimental, because of operating conditions or because they become fouled by reaction by-products or catalyst poisons in feedstocks. Catalyst poisoning causes catalyst activity reduction or catalyst selectivity changes with respect to the products they make.

Preserving catalyst activity or optimal selectivity is vital to catalysts users. Not doing so means higher energy usage (through needing to ramp-up reaction temperature to maintain rate), plant shut-downs, catalyst regeneration or replacement, all adding to higher operating costs and lost production time. Deterioration in selectivity causes lost revenues because less of the desired product is made, or possibly the need for expensive reprocessing of the undesired products.

Proper design of catalysts, careful manufacture and activation, and controlled exposure under reaction conditions are therefore vital to prolong useful life. Catalyst characterisation provides the means to probe the factors through which catalyst performance is determined. Characterisation of all these factors permits the researcher, manufacturer and user to optimise vital parameters to the activity, selectivity and longevity of catalysts.

This requires techniques to study all sorts of physical and chemical aspects of preparation, activation, passivation, promotion, fouling mechanisms and regeneration. To do the job in a comprehensive way requires a variety of special tools and the expertise to use them and to know the importance of what is being observed. That’s where Intertek can help. Intertek scientists and laboratories offer a wealth of experience in catalyst characterisation. Intertek scientists come from the catalyst field, studying the parameters which affect catalyst performance comes as second nature.

Intertek provides pilot plant, laboratory, process and evaluation capabilities to support and optimize polymer, process chemistry, refining and process catalysis requirements. Intertek global pilot plant and supporting laboratory services can help with small to large scale, batch and continuous process projects.

• Catalyst and Process Chemistry Testing A-Z
• Process Chemistry and Catalyst Analysis
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