Multicapacity Microreactor for Catalyst Characterisation

The Hiden (UK) CATLAB integrated microreactor/ mass spectrometer (MS) system now addresses an extended applications range with the introduction of enlarged sample capacity options to accommodate sample volumes up to 2mL. The system, developed for quantification of catalytic activity and thermal reaction processes in both R&D and QC laboratories, monitors gas and vapour reaction products directly from
the sample position via the primary sampling interface embedded within the 1000oC fast-response furnace.

The interface concept maintains optimum system performance throughout the full sample capacity
range down to 0.1 mL, with the cartridge-style sample holders enabling fast and accurate sample
placement.

CATLAB Integrated Micro-reactor/MS LABview-based software is fully user-programmable to define the furnace temperature profile and ramp rate, establish MS data acquisition parameters, input gas/vapour flow through up to 8 mass flow controllers(MFC’s), and select valve switching functions including pulse gas injection for chemi-sorption measurement. The temperature profile determines the trigger-points to change gas composition, to inject gas pulses and to stop/start data acquisition. Additionally MS analysis files can be selected and matched to specific sections of the experiment to ensure optimum data at each stage.

The CATLAB system is engineered for combined reactor/MS system operation yet is readily decoupled
to enable operation of the mass spectrometer as a standalone laboratory and process gas analyser, a
secondary interface providing a decoupling point for off-line MS operation.