The R&D Division of Haldor Topsoe Selects Linkam Catalyst Stage
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Market leader in temperature controlled microscopy, Linkam Scientific Instruments reports how users have found benefits of the CCR1000 Catalyst System
Tadworth, UK - February 2008 - The new catalyst stage from Linkam has been designed to study catalytic reactions at high temperature and pressure. Samples are mounted on a virtually non-reactive disposable ceramic fabric filter enabling the carrier gas to pass through the sample inside the ceramic heating element which is capable of heating samples from ambient up to 1000°C and at pressures of up to 5 bar.
Success stories for new technology are always good to report and the R&D division of world-leading catalyst and technology company, Haldor Topsoe, have chosen the Linkam system after years of trying other in situ characterization approaches, (e.g. TEM, XAS, XRD or Raman spectroscopy) to identify under reaction conditions which specific sites in their catalysts are responsible for the catalytic activity.
For example, oxidation of SO2 into SO3 over vanadium based supported liquid phase catalysts, is the key stage in the industrial production of sulphuric acid. SO2 oxidation catalysts are also used to efficiently remove SO2 emissions from carbon fired power plants and thereby contribute to the reduction of acid rain and urban smog. In one series of experiments, a commercial sulphuric acid catalyst (VK-38) has been investigated recently by means of in situ Raman spectroscopy using Linkam's high temperature catalytic cell reactor. In situ Raman spectra were recorded in a sulphur dioxide containing atmosphere (2000 ppm SO2 in air) in the temperature range from 300 to 400 °C, while conversion was measured with an infrared SO2 analyser. It was observed that at around 300-350 °C, the catalyst starts to take up SO2 from the gas phase, forming a molten alkali pyrosulphate, which dissolves the vanadium salts and thereby forming the active supported molten phase. Significant conversion of SO2 starts at around 350 °C and is progressively increased when the temperature is raised up to 400 °C (at 400 °C the conversion was 65%). The proposed active dimeric vanadium sulphate species in the melt can be detected by the presence of the Raman band at 1050 and 1176 cm-1 Combining an advanced hot stage designed specifically to work in very aggressive conditions with Raman spectroscopy has revealed significant new data in a very convenient to use bench-top system.
Commenting on the work at Haldor Topsoe, Linkam Director, Vince Kamp, said that this is an excellent example of how our users have adapted the experimental set-up to study their materials in a real-world environment. Linkam, with the well-proven philosophy of listening to customer needs in the design of new products, see the catalyst system as a valuable addition in materials characterisation to meet the multi-disciplinary requirements of the modern analysis and R&D laboratories.
Linkam's new Catalyst CCR1000 system in use at the R&D facility of Haldor Topsoe in Denmark.
In situ Raman spectrum of the commercial sulphuric acid catalyst under oxidizing conditions in synthetic air (top) and additional SO2 (bottom).
For high resolution files, please click on the approriate images above. Alternatively, please contact Jezz Leckenby at NetDyaLog Limited.
About Linkam Scientific Instruments
Linkam develops and manufactures a broad range of heating and freezing stages for both OEM and end users to visualize and explore materials properties. Used in conjunction with light microscopes and other forms of spectroscopy, Linkam stages are found in thousands of laboratories worldwide with the most dynamic and successful microscope heating stage, the THMS600, selling over 2,000 units alone. Linkam is the market leader in temperature controlled microscopy.
Linkam contact
Ian Pearce
+44 (0) 1737 363476
Media contact
Jezz Leckenby
+44 (0) 1799 521881
Linkam Scientific Instruments Limited
No. 8 Epsom Downs Metro Center
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Tadworth
Surrey KT20 5LR
United Kingdom
T +44 (0) 1737 363476
www.linkam.co.uk
ian@linkam.co.uk
NetDyaLog Limited
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5HT
T +44 (0) 1799 521881
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www.netdyalog.com
jezz@netdyalog.com
