Novel Structured Catalytic Reactors

Dear Colleagues,

Robustness, low pressure drops, and high catalyst efficiency are some of the key features that have allowed for structured catalytic reactors penetrating into the technological market in the past decades. For instance, they are the main technology used in the pollutant abatement (TWC, DPF, stationary and mobile SCR, etc.).

On the other hand, drawbacks, such as low volumetric catalyst density (requiring large reactor volumes), limiting mass transfer from the gas to the solid phase (especially in honeycomb monolith where laminar flow prevails), low thermal conductivity in ceramic monoliths, or adhesion problems on metallic substrates, have stimulated researchers worldwide, and, consequently, novel structured catalytic reactors and/or novel preparation approaches have been studied, leading to structured systems with improved features.

In particular, hybrid systems (such as packed foams), multi-functional and/or multi-scale “hierarchical” (based on 3-DOM and/or inverse opal structure) catalytic reactors, and micro-reactors have been investigated. The benefits included (but were not limited to) improved transport properties and process intensification. Advanced structured catalytic reactors also required the development of novel preparation techniques. Among others, there will be particular attention to 3D printing, multi-scale (from nano to macro) assembling, and electro-deposition.

A key feature of the structured catalytic reactors is the co-occurrence of multiple chemical and physical phenomena (mass transfer to, inside, and from the catalytic layer, radial, and axial heat transfer, and a chemical reaction on the catalyst surface), related not only to the intrinsic features of the active phase, but also to the substrate properties. In this respect, several phenomena have been understood and/or previewed by numerical studies, especially by CFD simulations.

This Special Issue will be focused on the recent advances in the novel structured catalytic reactors configurations and advanced preparation techniques. Both experimental and numerical studies are welcome.

Dr. Gianluca Landi
Guest Editor

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