Catalytic Reactor
Catalytic Reactor - Related Videos
08:56
Catalytic Reactor: Hydrogenation of Ethylene
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2023
Source: Kerry M. Dooley and Michael G. Benton, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA The hydrogenation of ethylene (C2H4) to ethane (C2H6) has often been studied as a model reduction reaction in characterizing new metal catalysts.1-2 While supported nickel is not the most active metal catalyst for this reaction, it is active enough that reaction can take place at < 200°C. The reaction typically involves adsorbed, dissociated hydrogen (H2) reacting...
11:00
Liquid Phase Reactor: Sucrose Inversion
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2023
Source: Kerry M. Dooley and Michael G. Benton, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA Both batch and continuous flow reactors are used in catalytic reactions. Packed beds, which use solid catalysts and a continuous flow, are the most common configuration. In the absence of an extensive recycle stream, such packed bed reactors are typically modeled as "plug flow". The other most common continuous reactor is a stirred tank, which is assumed to be perfectly...
05:56
Operation of High-pressure Reactor Vessels
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2023
Robert M Rioux, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA The use of gases in a synthetic chemistry laboratory is essential for carrying out a variety of highly facile and atom economical transformations. Reactions such as hydrogenation, oxidation, and amination require the use of gases like hydrogen, oxygen, and ammonia. Due to the poor solubility of these gases in typical reactant solutions, high pressures are necessary to achieve a meaningful reaction rate. Not only are these gases...
03:03
Developing a Bacterial Monolayer Biofilm Using an Electrochemical Reactor
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2026
Source: Tokunou, Y. et. al., Electrochemical Detection of Deuterium Kinetic Isotope Effect on Extracellular Electron Transport in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. J. Vis. Exp. (2018)This video demonstrates the assembly and operation of an electrochemical reactor model designed to simulate biofilm formation on electrode surfaces. Controlled electrochemical stimulation promotes microbial adhesion, leading to the gradual development of a bacterial monolayer biofilm.
10:39
Single and Two-phase Flow in a Packed Bed Reactor
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2023
Source: Kerry M. Dooley and Michael G. Benton, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA The goal of this experiment is to determine the magnitude of maldistribution in typical packed bed reactors in both single phase and two-phase (gas-liquid) flow and evaluate the effects of this maldistribution on pressure drop. The concepts of residence time distribution and dispersion are introduced through the use of tracers, and these concepts are related to physical...
FAQs
A catalyst can improve either how quickly reactants are converted, how selectively a desired product forms, or both. These effects determine whether a reactor prioritizes rapid processing, reduced by-product formation, or a balance between the two. Evaluating rate and selectivity together helps researchers choose operating conditions that support efficient product formation in bioengineering processes.
Temperature, pressure, flow, and residence time directly influence reactant contact with the catalyst and the extent of conversion. Their effects are interdependent: changing flow alters residence time, while temperature and pressure affect reaction behavior. Controlling these variables allows researchers to regulate product formation and compare reactor performance under defined experimental conditions.
The catalyst format determines how reactants contact the active material and how the process is controlled. Solid surfaces provide one configuration, whereas immobilized enzymes and microbial catalysts represent biological alternatives for catalysis. Selecting among them requires attention to catalyst stability, mass transfer, and the intended product, especially when designing bioengineering processes.
Researchers first identify the catalyst and reaction objective, then establish suitable temperature, pressure, flow, and residence-time conditions. They evaluate how reactants contact the catalyst and monitor conversion and product formation. This workflow links reactor conditions with catalyst stability and mass transfer, providing a basis for optimizing laboratory studies before considering larger-scale operation.
Bioengineering applications include biocatalysis, enzyme-based synthesis, cell-free production, and the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, biomaterials, and renewable chemicals. The reactor provides controlled conditions for testing how catalysts generate target products. Its use is especially relevant when researchers need to connect catalyst behavior with process yield, stability, and the feasibility of moving beyond laboratory experiments.
Reactor design provides a framework for transferring controlled reaction conditions from laboratory experiments toward industrial production. Researchers can examine residence time, flow, mass transfer, catalyst stability, conversion, and product formation as process scale changes. These measurements help identify operating conditions that maintain performance and support continuous production of pharmaceuticals, biomaterials, or renewable chemicals.