Stirred Microreactor with Improved Catalyst Loading

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This invention is a high-temperature stirred microreactor designed to hold and work with solid catalyst particles more effectively. It consists of a reactor vessel with a lid through which a mechanical shaft passes to drive an internal stirrer, along with a sampling tube. The key innovation is a liquid-permeable inner container — fixed directly to the rotating shaft — that holds particulate solid materials such as catalyst beads or powders. This arrangement keeps the solid particles securely in place while still allowing liquid reactants to flow through and interact with them during the reaction.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Testing heterogeneous catalysts in small-scale high-temperature chemical reactions, such as screening new catalyst formulations in pharmaceutical or fine-chemical development.
• Conducting high-throughput catalyst evaluation studies where multiple solid catalyst samples need to be tested under stirred, high-temperature conditions.
• Performing kinetic studies on solid-liquid reactions in petrochemical or refinery research, where catalyst particles must remain stationary relative to the stirrer.
• Sampling reaction liquids during ongoing experiments without disturbing the solid catalyst bed, enabling real-time monitoring of reaction progress.
• Evaluating catalyst stability and leaching behavior under vigorous stirring conditions in specialty chemical or polymer research labs.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• The liquid-permeable inner container keeps solid catalyst particles contained and prevents loss or uncontrolled dispersion during stirring, improving experimental reproducibility.
• Fixing the catalyst container directly to the rotating shaft ensures consistent relative motion between the catalyst bed and the liquid phase, enhancing mass transfer and reaction efficiency.
• The integrated sampling tube allows in-situ liquid sampling without interrupting the reaction or disturbing the catalyst loading, saving time and improving data quality.
• The design is suitable for high-temperature operation, expanding the range of reactions that can be studied compared to conventional low-temperature microreactors.
• The compact microreactor format reduces the amount of catalyst and reagents required, lowering material costs and enabling safer handling of hazardous substances.
• The mechanically attachable lid and fixable inner container allow straightforward catalyst loading and exchange, reducing downtime between experiments.

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Patent Abstract

The present invention relates to a high-temperature microreactor comprising a reactor vessel and a reactor lid mechanically attachable to the reactor vessel with a mechanical shaft passable through the reactor lid for driving a stirring device located in the reactor vessel and a sampling tube passable through the reactor lid, wherein the microreactor has a liquid-permeable receiving container arrangeable in the interior of the reactor vessel, suitable for receiving particulate solids, wherein the receiving container can be fixed in place on the mechanical shaft via a fixing device.