The high temperature fixed bed reactor is a thick-walled metal column within a double-insulated housing. The reactor can be packed by the user providing flexibility. High temperature fixed bed reactors are generally used for metal catalysis. The temperature of the outside of the reactor wall is controlled.
Application examples
- Continuous flow hydrogenation – Supported metal catalysts (e.g. Pd, Pt, Ni) allow safe, efficient hydrogenations
- Continuous flow hydration over a fixed bed – Solid acid or base catalysts enable selective hydration reactions
- Direct alkylation of N-heterocycles and amines – Packed-bed catalysts or reagents facilitate efficient C–N bond formation
- Click chemistry – Immobilised catalysts (e.g. Cu-based) support rapid, high-yielding cycloaddition reactions
- Post cracking work-up of high value petroleum products
High temperature fixed bed reactor – features
- Precise temperature control, ambient to 250 °C
- Optional 6 mm or 10 mm internal diameters
- Materials of construction PTFE, stainless steel or Hastelloy®C276, FFKM seals
- Reactor volumes 2.5 ml to 7.5 ml
- Residence times 30 s to 150 minutes
- Pressure up to 50 bar at 250 °C
Key advantages
Vapourtec high temperature fixed bed reactors combine robust metal construction with precise thermal control for demanding catalytic processes. User-packed columns provide flexibility for metal catalysts, enabling safe, efficient continuous reactions at elevated temperatures. Ideal for hydrogenation, hydration, alkylation, and click chemistry, they deliver reliable performance, improved selectivity, and scalable processing.
Safety
There are a few safety considerations when using these high temperatures. Vapourtec takes safety extremely seriously.
Firstly, reaction products exiting the system at 250 °C can present a hazard so is recommended that
- Either the cooling coil or another metal tube reactor set at a lower temperature is used after the column reactor as a cooling stage before products are depressurised and leave the system.
- Online quenching using a solvent is used immediately after the main reaction to reduce the temperature
Useful references (examples of possible applications)
https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/20/9/15797
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ol1026848 using Cu tubing, not column
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.joc.3c01788
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.oprd.3c00144
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