Operando-Spectroscopy Annular Reactor for Spectro-kinetic Analysis in Heterogeneous Catalysis

The big challenge facing the chemical and related industries in the 21st century is the transition towards more sustainable manufacturing processes that efficiently use raw materials/energy and eliminate waste.

Within this framework, catalysis engineering is recognized as the most important key enabling technology that has a substantial impact on key manufacturing sectors such as petroleum, energy, chemicals, pharma and food industry (about $ 10 trillion of the world’s Gross National Product) and highly contributes to the green deal, by reducing energy intensity for these products by 20% to 40% by 2050.

To solve all these issues, an in-depth understanding of the phenomena occurring at the catalyst surface with atomic resolution and their micro-kinetic consequences within the reactor in conditions relevant to the industrial process is of paramount relevance.

Currently, a novel operando multi-technique reactor operating under realistic process-relevant conditions is still missing During the ERC “SHAPE” Stg (n. 677423), we have developed a spatially-resolved operando-Raman annular reactor able to provide a detailed real-time local information of the catalyst’ behaviour along the reactor, under strict kinetic control and nearly isothermal conditions for heterogeneous catalysis (80% of the total catalytic processes).

The SPECTROKIN project aims to perform the technical-commercial feasibility of our integrated operando annular reactor by moving forward a ready to use equipment for the steam/dry methane reforming reactions on metal catalysts and upgrading the tool for other reactive systems, paving the way for a family of innovative devices.