Catalyst and Sorbent Synthesis
For more than two decades, RTI has developed novel supported-metal catalysts, mixed-metal oxide catalysts, zeolites, and metal-organic frame-works (MOFs) to solve challenging, energy-related problems. RTI has assembled the researchers and facilities necessary to maintain a world-class catalyst synthesis program. The flexibility of our resources allows for the synthesis of different types of catalysts and sorbents by various techniques—co-precipitation, impregnation, spray drying, extrusion, and pelletization. RTI has particular expertise in developing highly active and physically strong catalysts—properties that tend to be mutually exclusive during development for fast-fluidize or circulating reactor systems. RTI is also one of the few places worldwide capable of producing MOFs at kilogram scale.
The backbone of RTI’s catalyst synthesis program is a large wet-chemistry laboratory that is fully equipped with laboratory- to pilot-scale equipment for the production and optimization of catalyst formulations. Specialized equipment includes a Niro Mobile Minor spray dryer used for spray drying kilogram batches of catalyst or sorbent materials and a Bonnot extruder for preparing catalyst pellets of many shapes and sizes.