Microstructured Reactors in Heterogenous Catalysis

• Published in: Chemical engineering & technology Vol. 30; no. 12; pp. 1615 - 1621
• Main Authors: Klemm, E., Döring, H., Geisselmann, A., Schirrmeister, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 01.12.2007; WILEY‐VCH Verlag
• Subjects: Gas-Liquid systems; Heterogeneous Catalysis; Microreactors; Wall catalysts
• ISSN: 0930-7516; 1521-4125
• DOI: 10.1002/ceat.200700311

A number of heterogeneously catalyzed reactions, mainly gas‐phase reactions, have been performed previously at a laboratory scale and a successful proof of concept was achieved. Since the beginning of this century, there has been a shift in focus on the transfer from laboratory scale to production scale. In particular, this review deals with the technical concepts and economic aspects involved in such a shift. Heterogenously catalyzed gas‐phase and liquid‐phase processes are discussed separately. The preparation of wall catalysts is a key technology in both cases and is described in an additional subsection. Finally, an evaluation of the developmental status is given. The technical concepts and economic aspects involved in the transfer from laboratory scale to production scale are reviewed for a number of heterogeneously catalyzed reactions. Heterogenously catalyzed gas‐phase and liquid‐phase processes are described separately and the preparation of wall catalysts is also discussed.