Extrudates, typically 1-4mm in diameter, are still used in many applications, but spheres and rings (hollow cylinders) are also becoming more popular. As with refining applications, extrudates with cloverleaf cross sections, known as trilobes or quadrilobes, are critical to incorporating maximum amounts of active catalyst into a reactor. More complex shapes, often with fluted exteriors and holes or channels in the body, allow enhanced geometrical surface area which increases access to the catalytic sites for the reactants.
A wide range of shaped carriers can be manufactured using extrusion and pressing techniques.
Saint-Gobain NorPro recognizes the growing potential for small, "micro" shaped catalyst carriers. Our newly introduced, Accu® catalyst support spheres meets the small diameter requirements for catalytic systems with its 0.3mm to 3.5mm size range. This new range provides high-geometric surface area, uniform packing and even flow distribution for use in slurry or moving bed reactors, especially where coking and constant catalyst regeneration is required. Saint-Gobain NorPro manufacturing assures tight adherence to specifications and high-level quality control in a variety of materials such as alumina, silica, titania, zirconia and mixed oxides.
Saint-Gobain NorPro recognizes the growing potential "uni" sphere shaped catalyst carriers. Many catalytic systems can be optimized by the use of small diameter spheres to meet the requirements of high geometric surface area with uniform packing and flow distribution, even for high throughput systems. Small diameter spheres are also an important product for use in slurry or moving bed reactors -- especially where coking and constant catalyst regeneration is required. Important to note that Unispheres® catalyst carriers are available in all of Saint-Gobain NorPro’s typical chemistries; from alumina or silica to zirconia. Unispheres® carriers are formed from as small as 3mm up to 8mm.
