Catalyst, Amphora

Name:
Catalyst, Amphora
Detailed information:
Catalyst particles made from a slurry of critical viscosity by compressing it into spheres or droplets followed by unidirectional heating and air-drying on a moving belt, the spheres being supported by a powder bed material. This process results in particles from 1.5 to 6 mm in diameter. The unique feature is the formation of an internal cavity having an orifice at one point, so that the particle roughly resembles a doughnut from which a bite has been taken. Since the shape of the cavity suggests an amphora (Greek vase), the catalyst was so named. This shape affords a higher surface-to-volume ratio than is possible with solid spheres and other conventional forms, with consequent greater efficiency. A variety of materials can be used, e.g., alumina, zeolites, metallic oxides, etc. Amphora catalysts are effective in a wide range of chemical processing applications (oxidation and reforming of hydrocarbons, hydrotreating).