Magnetophoretic Sorting of Single Catalyst Particles. Issue 33 (13th July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Solsona, Miguel; Nieuwelink, Anne‐Eva; Meirer, Florian; Abelmann, Leon; Odijk, Mathieu; Olthuis, Wouter; Weckhuysen, Bert M.; van den Berg, Albert
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 57:Issue 33(2018)
• Page Start: 10589
• Page End: 10594
• Publication Date: 2018-07-13
• Subjects: fluid catalytic cracking -- heterogeneous catalysis -- magnetic properties -- magnetophoresis -- microfluidics; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201804942
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

Abstract: A better understanding of the deactivation processes taking place within solid catalysts is vital to design better ones. However, since inter‐particle heterogeneities are more a rule than an exception, particle sorting is crucial to analyse single catalyst particles in detail. Microfluidics offers new possibilities to sort catalysts at the single particle level. Herein, we report a first‐of‐its‐kind 3D printed magnetophoretic chip able to sort catalyst particles by their magnetic moment. Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) particles were separated based on their Fe content. Magnetophoretic sorting shows that large Fe aggregates exist within 20 % of the FCC particles with the highest Fe content. The availability of Brønsted acid sites decreases with increasing Fe content. This work paves the way towards a high‐throughput catalyst diagnostics platform to determine why specific catalyst particles perform better than others. Abstract : Sorted : Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) particles can deactivate owing to Fe coming from the crude oil feedstock. FCC particles were magnetophoretically sorted by their magnetic moment, which correlates with Fe content. Their magnetic properties suggest that Fe deposits in small clusters on the FCC particles and that acidity decreased with increasing Fe content.