Development of a SiC catalytic HEX-reactor – Catasic

Reactors-heat exchangers made in silicon carbide opened the way to batch-to-continuous of difficult or dangerous renowned chemical routes. The resistance to corrosion allied to the excellent thermal conductivity of SiC make a material of choice for exothermic aggressive reactions. The CATASIC project attacks the technological and scientific bottlenecks of the supported heterogeneous catalysis. The support of catalysts (foams, beads) will be sealed to the reactor walls to reduce the thermal resistances at the interfaces. The deposit of catalysts will be made by grafting. Two reactions of great industrial importance are envisaged: the selective epoxidation of cyclohexene to cyclohexene oxide (in the liquid phase), and the oligomerization of ethylene to form alpha-olefins (in the gas phase). These are two exothermic reactions that require relatively severe conditions. The reactors will be qualified in terms of pressure drop, hydrodynamics, residence time, thermal and chemical performance.