The Ventacon Series CAT cell provides catalytic chemists with a facility to activate catalysts and then to study them in their F-T Raman instruments. Most chemistry on catalysts involves heating the sample (in powder or pellet form) either in vacuum or in an oxidizing or reducing atmosphere as a first stage. The reactions that take place under these conditions normally make the catalyst active. Raman studies before and after activation can be highly informative. Reactants passed over a heated specimen of the activated catalyst can then provide detailed information on the chemistry involved if one observes the in situ process and the makeup of the exhaust gas. A popular method for the in situ analysis is vibrational spectroscopy - both infrared and Raman. Fluorescence tends to cause severe problems with Raman measurements but the use of near infrared sources and F-T processing minimise this particular nuisance. The Ventacon CAT cell system comprises of a glass
horizontal tube containing the catalyst held with glass wool pads inside a small oven
surrounded with insulating material. Gas can be passed through the catalyst via external
flexible tubes or the sample can be evacuated. |
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