The new AutoChem from Micromeriticsis the most widely used and highly cited system for catalyst reactivity characterization because it is also the most automated, highly accurate system for chemisorption and temperature-programmed reactions.
The all new AutoChem III meets and exceeds that performance with a design that will save you hours a day, make the most sensitive, reproducible measurement, and enhance operator safety.
AutoChem III Capabilities
| AutoChem III Specifications | |
| Temperature | Ambient to 1200°C |
| Temperature Ramp Rates | 100°C to 800°C: up to 100°C/min 800°C to 1000°C: up to 50°C/min 1000°C to 1200°C: up to 25°C/min |
| Preparation gases | 6 inlets: H2, O2, He, Ar, H2/Ar, and more |
| Carrier gases | 6 inlets: He, Ar, H2/Ar, and more |
| Analysis (loop) gases | He, H2, CO, O2, N2O, NH3/He, and more |
| AutoChem III Capabilities | Optional Capabilities |
| Pulse Chemisorption | CryoCooler -100°C to 1200°C |
| Temperature-programmed reactions: TPR, TPO, TPD, TPSR | Detection by Mass Spec |
| Strong Chemisorption: Reactive metal area, dispersion, crystallite size | Continous or Pulsed Vapor dosing
water, alcohol, amines, aromatic organics, and more |
| Active site surface concentration | Enhanced Chemical Resistance |
| Reduction, Oxidation Temperatures | B.E.T. Surface Area |
| Acid site strength distribution: Lewis/Brønsted acid site distribution | |
| Breakthrough Curve Measurement | |
| Activation Energy |
AutoChem III Feature List
Temperature-controlled corrosion-resistant detector is compatible with corrosive gases and inherently protected from gas leaks that can destroy alternative designs, providing high reliability and long operational life
High sensitivity thermal conductivity detector (TCD) is 2x as sensitive as alternatives so you can measure smaller samples volumes, detect secondary reactions, and have greater confidence in your results
18 total gas inlets six each for preparation, carrier, and loop gases permit sequential experiments of different types and saves time between experiments
Exclusive AutoTrap provides superior moisture removal for TPR experiments with a system that is effortless to use and saves hours per day 18 total gas inlets six each for preparation, carrier, and loop gases permit sequential experiments of different types and saves time between experiments
Dynamic clamshell furnace provides temperature control up to 1200°C and controlled heating rates from 0.1°C/min to 100°C/min with the lowest available temperature overshoot
Integrated AutoCool cools the furnace and sample quicker than forced air alone without the use of cryogenic liquids, saving an average of 30 minutes per experiment
Internal gas temperature control in four separate zones prevents condensation during studies with vapor and improves overall signal stability
The lowest internal gas volume provides the highest peak resolution and minimizes tailing when changing gas stream composition.
KwikConnect retention system makes sample tube mounting quick, easy, and safe with no threaded connections and half as many separate pieces as traditional designs
AutoChem III Benefits
The new AutoChem III features a new thermal conductivity detector (TCD) that is 110% more sensitive than previous designs. This enables you to use lower sample masses, accurately detect secondary reactions, and achieve greater accuracy of catalyst traits like site coverage(AutoChem II 2920). Detector sensitivity is enhanced by a reference stream with a dedicated mass flow controller (MFC) that provides a stable reference to the sample stream. Alternative designs use a common carrier stream for both the reference and signal paths, resulting in interference between the measurement and reference stream leading to signal instability. The temperature-controlled TCD is a robust sensor with a long operating life and intrinsic protection from operational errors like gas flow leaks that cause premature failure of 4-element detectors used in inferior designs.
The NEW AutoCool is an integrated gas-fed system that rapidly cools sample tubes before and during experiments. AutoCool is typically 30 minutes faster than alternative systems and requires no liquids or external support.
The NEW AutoTrap effectively traps vapor and requires no manual slush bath preparation. Traditional methods for vapor capture require the time-intensive process of slush-bath preparation through the manual mixing of liquid nitrogen with isopropanol. The zeolite bed of the AutoTrap effectively captures vapors, can be used for several experiments without interruption and can be regenerated in situ.
The patented new KwikConnect makes sample tube installation faster, easier, and more reliable than traditional designs with half as many separate pieces and no threaded fittings. Installation and removal are easier and quicker, reduce the risk of breaking sample tubes, and provide peace of mind that the snap lock closure has completely sealed the system.
Don’t waste time reconnecting and switching gas lines: have what you need ready when you need it. The AutoChem III has 18 available gas streams so you’re always ready to run your next reaction. Having the right blended gas ready also means you won’t introduce errors from poorly designed external gas connections, and you won’t compromise data accuracy by blending gases, which unnecessarily introduces errors from mass flow controllers.
Configurations:
MASS SPECTROMETER (MS)
Mass spec provides a direct probe for the identity and quantity of specific reaction products. This is especially valuable when investigating an unknown reaction, or a reaction that creates multiple products. The single quadrupole mass spec with heated transfer line provides detection of mass fragments up to 200 amu and data collection that is integrated with the operation of the AutoChem III. The AutoChem III also includes a general mass spec communication port for coordination with a lab’s existing mass spec.
CRYOCOOLER
Begin experiments at temperatures as low as -100 °C with controlled liquid-nitrogen-based cooling.
VAPOR GENERATOR
Prepare samples for analysis or perform measurements in the presence of pulsed or continuous vapor streams such as water, alcohol, pyridine, aromatic organics, and more.
ENHANCED CORROSION RESISTANCE (ECR)
For reaction chemistries that requires particularly aggressive gas compositions, a special version of the AutoChem III is available with enhanced corrosion resistance. Wetted materials are constructed from highly resistant Hastelloy, highly stable perfluoroelastomers, and inert-coated stainless steel to provide the greatest stability under the harshest working conditions.
NET ZERO TECHNOLOGIES
The development of efficient and effective catalysts is necessary to the continued development of CO2 mitigation and the hydrogen economy that will enable a sustainable energy future. The AutoChem III is a useful tool to optimize adsorption and dissociation of H2/O2 on electrolysis electrodes, show whether desorption occurs near reaction conditions, quantify acid or base sites to optimize reactivity and selectivity, and more.
FUEL CELLS
Platinum-based catalysts including Pt/C, PtRu/C, and PtRuIr/C are often characterized by temperature-programmed reduction to determine the number of oxide phases and pulse chemisorption to calculate: metal surface area, metal dispersion and average crystallite size
PARTIAL OXIDATION
Manganese, cobalt, bismuth, iron, copper, and silver catalysts used for the gas-phase oxidation of ammonia, methane, ethylene, and propylene are characterized using: Temperature-programmed oxidation and desorption, heat of desorption & dissociation of oxygen.
CATALYTIC CRACKING
Acid catalysts such as zeolites are used to convert large hydrocarbons to gasoline and diesel fuel. The characterization of these materials includes: Ammonia chemisorption and temperature-programmed desorption.
CATALYTIC REFORMING
Catalysts containing platinum, rhenium, tin, etc. on silica, alumina, or silica alumina are used for the production of hydrogen, aromatics, and olefins.
ISOMERIZATION
Catalysts such as small-pore zeolites (mordenite and ZSM-5) containing noble metals (typically platinum) are used to convert linear paraffins to branched paraffins.
HYDROCRACKING: HYDRODESULFURIZATION, AND HYDRODENITROGENATION
Hydrocracking catalysts typically composed of metal sulfides (nickel, tungsten, cobalt, and molybdenum) are used for processing feeds containing polycyclic aromatics that are not suitable for typical catalytic cracking processes.
WATER GAS SHIFT REACTION
The water-gas shift reaction is an important element in the hydrogen lifecycle and the push toward net-zero technologies. The combination of catalysts, often copper-zinc-alumina and iron-chromia, are characterized by TPR and pulse chemisorption to maximize activity.
