High-throughput operando Raman-quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) system to screen catalytic systems

Area of Science:

• Catalysis
• Spectroscopy
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Operando spectroscopy is crucial for understanding catalytic mechanisms under reaction conditions.
• Simultaneous activity measurements provide vital performance data alongside spectral information.
• Current methods often lack the throughput to test multiple catalysts efficiently.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and implement a high-throughput system for operando Raman spectroscopy.
• To automate the simultaneous analysis of multiple catalytic reactors.
• To enable in situ characterization and activity measurement under identical reaction conditions.

Main Methods:

• Development of a multi-reactor setup for eight parallel catalytic systems.
• Integration of a high-throughput Raman spectroscopy system for in situ analysis.
• Automated selection and analysis of gas outlet streams from each reactor.

Main Results:

• Successful design and setup of the multi-operando Raman system.
• Demonstration of simultaneous spectral acquisition and activity monitoring for multiple catalysts.
• Detailed description of system components, positioning, and gas analysis procedures.

Conclusions:

• The multi-operando Raman system significantly enhances throughput for catalyst evaluation.
• This automated approach facilitates efficient in situ studies of catalytic processes.
• The system provides a powerful tool for optimizing catalyst performance and understanding reaction mechanisms.