REACT - Instrumentation
REACT core facility provides a range of instrumentation and services for catalysis research. All instrumentation and services are available to Northwestern students, students of outside universities, and industrial researchers. If you have any questions or comments about the core’s capabilities, are interested in using the lab's equipment, or would like more details about rates, please contact REACT Operations Director Neil Schweitzer for more information.
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- Gas/ Vapor Phase Reactions
- Liquid Phase/ High Pressure Reactions
- Liquid Chromatography
- Temperature Programmed Experiments/ Chemisorption
- in situ Infrared Spectroscopy
- Mass Spectroscopy
- Surface Area/ Pore Structure Analysis
- Atomic Layer Deposition
Gas/ Vapor Phase Reactions
REACT houses a heavily modified BenchCAT 4000 reactor system from Altamira Instruments. The BenchCat consists of four, fully automated, independently operated, plug-flow reactors used for catalyst screening and kinetic studies (reaction order analysis, Arrhenius analysis, and deactivation analysis). Each reactor has an on-line GC for direct gas analysis of the product stream. Each of the stations have been customized for specific applications, described below:
STATION 1
Station one has been modified specifically for vapor-phase, hydrogen peroxide chemistry (see our publication for more details: J. Catal. 2015, 326, 107-115). A syringe pump provides a continuous flow of aqueous, hydrogen peroxide that is vaporized in the reactor zone before coming into contact with the catalyst bed. This arrangement is accompanied by a vaporizer unit for the introduction of most, non-corrosive hydrocarbon vapors. Station 1 is equipped with an Agilent 7890A GC system utilizing both an FID (used to measure hydrocarbons) and a TCD (used to measure small gases such as O2, N2, CO, and CO2) to measure product stream components and concentrations.
STATION 2
Station two is used specifically for gas-phase chemistry. It is equipped with three flow controllers allowing for the use of up to three separate gases. This station utilizes an Agilent 6850 GC system equipped with a TCD, which provides analysis of gases lighter than C5 hydrocarbons (including gases such as O2, N2, CO, and CO2).
STATION 3
Station three has been modified specifically for vapor-phase chemistry. One of three flowmeters is equipped with a bubbler system for the introduction of vapors to the catalyst bed. It is equipped with an Agilent 7890A GC system utilizing both an FID (used to measure hydrocarbons) and a TCD (used to measure small gases such as O2, N2, CO, and CO2) to measure product stream components and concentrations.
STATION 4
Station four has been modified specifically for vapor-phase chemistry. One of five flowmeters is equipped with a bubbler system for the introduction of vapors to the catalyst bed. It is equipped with an Agilent 7890A GC system utilizing an FID to measure hydrocarbon concentrations in the product stream.
The core provides inert gases for each station, operating gases for all the GC’s, and reactor consumables. Customers are responsible for providing specialty gases and liquids.
Liquid Phase/ High Pressure Reactions
The core has two, 4590 micro bench top autoclave Parr reactors. These reactors are intended for high pressure, liquid phase catalyst testing and are rated up to 350°C and 200 bar. Each reactor is accompanied by a 4848 control box which is used to control the reactor temperature, control the magnetic stirrer speed, and precisely measure the pressure. Additionally, each reactor is accompanied by a custom built, gas manifold system which allows the introduction of three separate gases.
Liquid Chromatography
The Agilent 1200 is a high-performance liquid chromatography system ideal for analysis of liquid phase reaction products that have low volatility. Equipped with a high performance auto sampler, a diode-array detector, and a refractive index detector, this system is capable of analyzing numerous samples consisting of a wide range of compounds. It is a great analytical accompanyment to the high pressure, liquid phase reactors, or can be reserved alone. Columns and solvents are provided by the core.
Temperature Programmed Experiments/ Chemisorption
The AMI-200 is used for conducting temperature programed experiments and pulse chemisorption studies. These experiments allow the user to measure the active surface area of a material, characterize the red-ox properties of a surface, measure the desorption characteristics of adsorbates, and even measure single-point BET surface areas after various treatments. Gases provided by the center include hydrogen, oxygen, carbon monoxide, ammonia, and inerts. A bubbler system is also available for the introduction of vapors.
in situ Infrared Spectroscopy
The Thermo-6700 DRIFTS system and the Thermo-iS50 DRIFTS system are in-situ, infrared spectrometers intended for analyzing solid powder surfaces under reaction conditions. Equipped with a gas manifold and temperature controller, powder samples can be exposed to a wide variety of gases up to 600°C. Gases provided by the center currently include H2, O2, CO, NH3, and inerts. A bubbler is also available for the introduction of vapors. Additionally, a cryogenic in-situ cell capable of reaching -150°C is also available and can be used on either system.
Mass Spectroscopy
The Universal Gas Analyzer – 100 is a portable, mass spectrometer intended for sampling gas streams at atmospheric pressure. The detection limit is m/z=0-100 amu. This unit is intended as an add-on feature that can be used in conjunction with the other equipment available in the Core. Additionally, the unit is mobile and can be reserved for use as an add-on for equipment in your own lab. All that is required is an 1/8” Swagelok connection. Analysis software and computer are provided.
Surface Area/ Pore Structure Analysis
The Micromeritics 3Flex is the state-of-the-art instrument for measuring surface area and pore characteristics of solid powders. Fully automated, this instrument performs many tests on three separate samples simultaneously, easily generating data quickly with minimal user labor required. Furthermore, its advanced vacuum system is ultra stable allowing enhanced resolution for low pressure measurements (i.e. higher accuracy for low surface area materials and small pore sizes!).
Atomic Layer Deposition
The Arradiance GEMStar-8 Thermal Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) Benchtop System comes complete with 4 ALD precursor ports, four oxidizer/reducer ports, an ozone generator, an Inficon quartz crystal microbalance sensor, and rotary system specifically designed for coating powders. CleanCat provides precursors and standard coating recipes for alumina, silica, and titania deposition. User must order specialty precursors and precursor bottles for specialized depositions and recipe development.