Evaluation of the two-dimensional performances of low activity planar catalysts: development and validation of a true scanning reactor

The development of a scanning reactor for planar catalysts (SCR-PC) is here presented. With respect to other existing models, this reactor is able to scan catalysts even with low turnover frequencies, with a minimum sensed circular area of about 6 mm diameter. The downstream gas analysis is performed with a quaprupole mass spectrometer. The apparatus performances are presented for two different reactions: the hydrogenation of butadiene over palladium films and the oxidation of CO over a gold/titania catalyst. With the final setup true scans in both X and Y directions (or even in a previously defined complex direction pattern) are possible within a scan speed ranging from 0.1 mm/min to 5.0 mm/min. Finally, this apparatus aims at becoming a valuable tool for high throughput and combinatorial experimentation to test patterned active surfaces and catalytic libraries.