RAPID SERIAL EXPERIMENTATION OF CATALYSTS AND CATALYST SYSTEMS

摘要

A method of testing catalysts with a plurality of stations (1-6) in which each station can accommodate a common reactor module (7) in order to accomplish unattended, automated, rapid serial experim entation. The method includes providing a storage station of pre-loaded catalyst reactors (1 ), a hydrocarbon reaction station (4), one or more pre-treatment (2-3) and/or post-treatment stations (5) in series with said hydrocarbon reaction station, and a robotic means (8) for moving catalyst reactors (7) within a purged chamber (9) between stations, pre- treating the pre-loaded catalyst reactor (7) with a treatment gas in the pre-treatment station (2-3), reacting the pre-loaded catalyst reactor (7) with a hydrocarbon reactant in the hydrocarbon reaction station (4), post- treating the pre-loaded catalyst reactor (7) with a treatment gas in the post-treatment station, and repeating the foregoing steps such that the pre-treating, reacting and post-treating steps occur simultaneously for two different pre-loaded catalyst reactors (7).