What Challenges Arise in Scaling Up Catalytic Processes?
Scaling up catalytic processes involves tackling several challenges:
1. Heat and Mass Transfer: Efficient heat and mass transfer must be maintained to avoid hotspots or gradients that could affect reaction rates and selectivity. 2. Reactor Design: The design of industrial reactors must accommodate large volumes while ensuring uniform distribution of reactants and catalysts. 3. Catalyst Stability: Catalysts must remain stable and active over extended periods and under harsher conditions than those typically encountered in laboratory settings. 4. Reproducibility: Ensuring that the catalytic performance observed at a small scale is reproducible at a larger scale.
