• Reactor Systems
Catalytic Reactor Systems for laboratory & Bench-Scale Research
Configurable laboratory and bench-scale reactor systems for catalyst screening, reaction kinetics, fixed-bed testing, process development, and specialized biofuel research.
Controlled gas and liquid feeds
Configurable temperature and pressure
Benchtop and custom bench-scale platforms
Overview
What Are Catalytic Reactor Systems?
Catalytic reactor systems are laboratory platforms used to evaluate catalysts and study chemical reactions under controlled operating conditions. A complete system can combine reactant feed control, a heated reactor, pressure regulation, product handling, automation, and integration with analytical equipment, depending on the selected configuration.
For catalyst researchers, the right reactor platform makes it possible to control variables such as gas composition, liquid feed rate, temperature, pressure, catalyst loading, and reaction time while monitoring catalyst activity, selectivity, stability, and process behavior.
AMI Instruments offers reactor platforms ranging from the fully integrated µBenchCAT benchtop reactor system to larger, custom BenchCAT reactor systems and specialized BenchCAT systems for biofuel research.
For technical guidance on choosing a reactor for screening, kinetics, or scale-up, see our lab-scale catalytic reactor selection guide.
Why It Matters
Why Reactor System Selection Matters
Choosing the right lab-scale reactor system affects the quality, repeatability, and relevance of catalyst testing data. Reactor configuration should match the reaction phase, catalyst quantity, operating range, feed requirements, analytical workflow, and research objective.
Controlled Reaction Conditions
Reliable Catalyst Evaluation
Application-Specific Configuration
Consistent Quality
Control
Industries Served
Applications of Lab-Scale Reactor Systems
AMI catalytic reactor systems support research programs where controlled reaction conditions and reliable catalyst testing are essential.
Catalyst Screening & Evaluation
Reaction Kinetics & Stability Testing
Fixed-Bed Catalytic Research
Hydrogenation & Hydroprocessing Research
Reforming & Process Development
Biofuels & Sustainable Fuel R&D
Catalytic Reactor Systems from AMI Instruments
AMI offers configurable reactor platforms for benchtop catalyst testing, larger custom catalytic research, and specialized biofuel process development.
µBenchCAT
Versatile Benchtop Reactor Systems
● Semi-standardized, configurable reactor system.
● Supports up to six gas feeds and two liquid feeds.
● Operating temperatures up to 1,200 °C and pressures up to 100 bar, depending on the reactor configuration and material.
● Optional dual-reactor configuration for parallel or series operation.
BenchCAT Reactor Systems
Large Scale and Custom Reactor Systems for Catalysis and Process Development.
● Fully customized configurations for gas feeds, liquid feeds, temperature, and pressure.
● Multichannel systems with up to 16 reactor stations.
● Custom configurations available for temperatures above 1,200 °C and pressures above 100 bar.
● High-temperature, high-pressure, and corrosion-resistant construction options.
● Application-specific engineering for complex catalytic reactions.
BenchCAT Custom Reactor Systems
Product Catalog of Reactor System
● Designed for larger catalyst volumes and complex experimental applications.
● Customizable for fixed-bed, fluidized-bed, trickle-bed, and other reactor configurations.
● Available with multiple gas and liquid feeds, automated pressure control, separation, and analytical integration.
● Typically configured as a floor-standing system for advanced research and process-development applications.
Compare AMI Reactor Systems
Feature |
µBenchCAT |
BenchCAT Custom Systems |
BenchCATs for Biofuels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary fit | Benchtop catalyst testing, screening, kinetics, stability | Larger catalyst volumes and specialized/custom catalytic research | Specialized biofuel and sustainable-fuel research |
| Platform | Fully integrated benchtop system | Custom: often larger or specialized system architecture | Custom BenchCAT configuration |
| Gas feeds | Up to 6 | Defined by system configuration | Defined by system configuration |
| Liquid feeds | 0, 1 or 2 | Defined by system configuration | Defined by system configuration |
| Temperature | Up to 1,200 °C depending on reactor material | Defined by custom design | Defined by process-specific design |
| Pressure | Up to 100 bar | Defined by custom design | Defined by process-specific design |
| Parallel operation | Optional Dual configuration | Custom / application dependent | High-throughput designs up to 16 stations |
| Fixed-bed research | Yes | Available | Application dependent |
| Specialized reactor types | Primarily configured benchtop catalytic reactor | Fixed-bed, fluidized-bed, trickle-bed, slurry and other custom systems | Biofuel-process-specific custom systems |
| Best next step | Configure µBenchCAT | Discuss custom BenchCAT requirements | Discuss biofuel process requirements |
*Final operating limits and system capabilities depend on the selected reactor material, feed system, reactor geometry, safety requirements, and custom configuration.*
Methodology
Reactor Configurations & System Capabilities
AMI reactor systems can be configured around the requirements of the experiment. Available capabilities depend on the selected platform and custom design.
Fixed-Bed Reactor Testing
Controlled Gas & Liquid Feeding
Temperature & Pressure Control
Product Condensation & Phase Separation
External Analytical Integration
Automation, Parallel Operation & Custom Engineering
Key Benefits
Advantages of AMI Catalytic Reactor Systems
From compact benchtop testing to application-specific custom systems, AMI reactor platforms are designed to give catalyst researchers control over the variables that determine reaction performance.
Flexible Configuration
Automated Experimental Control
Multiple Research Scales
Application-Focused Engineering
Why AMI
Why Choose AMI Instruments for Reactor Systems?
AMI combines catalyst-characterization experience with configurable reactor engineering for laboratory and bench-scale research. The reactor portfolio is designed to support different experimental objectives, from compact catalyst screening to custom process-development systems.
● Benchtop and custom reactor platforms
● Configurable gas and liquid feed systems
● Automated temperature, pressure, flow, and valve control
● Fixed-bed and specialized custom reactor configurations
● External analytical integration options
● Dedicated system builders for µBenchCAT and BenchCAT configurations
For additional technical guidance, explore lab-scale catalytic reactor selection and reactor design equations for catalytic research.
Get Started
Configure the Right Reactor System for Your Research
Reactor requirements vary with catalyst type, reaction phase, feed composition, temperature, pressure, catalyst quantity, product handling, and analytical requirements. AMI can help identify the reactor platform and configuration that best fits the experimental objective.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a catalytic reactor system?
A catalytic reactor system is a laboratory or process-development platform used to study reactions in the presence of a catalyst under controlled conditions. Depending on the configuration, the system can control gas and liquid feeds, temperature, pressure, reactor conditions, product handling, and analytical sampling.
What is a lab-scale reactor system used for?
Lab-scale reactor systems are used for applications such as catalyst screening, reaction kinetics, stability testing, catalyst performance evaluation, process-condition studies, and early-stage process development. The appropriate reactor configuration depends on the reaction phase, catalyst form, operating range, and research objective.
What is the difference between µBenchCAT and BenchCAT?
The µBenchCAT is a fully integrated benchtop reactor system intended for catalytic research including screening, kinetics, stability testing, and gas- or liquid-phase reactions. BenchCAT systems are used when the project requires larger catalyst quantities, specialized reactor types, or a custom engineered configuration beyond the standard benchtop platform.
Can AMI reactor systems handle both gas and liquid feeds?
Yes. The µBenchCAT can be configured with up to six independently controlled gas feeds and zero, one, or two liquid feeds. Feed capabilities for custom BenchCAT systems are defined according to the application and system design.
Which AMI reactor systems can be used for fixed-bed catalyst testing?
The µBenchCAT is designed for benchtop catalytic research and can be configured for fixed-bed studies. The BenchCAT portfolio also includes fixed-bed reactor systems for projects that require larger catalyst quantities or more specialized configurations.
What temperature and pressure can the µBenchCAT operate at?
The µBenchCAT supports a maximum operating temperature up to 1200°C depending on reactor material and a maximum operating pressure up to 100 bar. The appropriate operating range depends on the selected reactor material and system configuration.
Can reactor effluent be connected to a GC or mass spectrometer?
The µBenchCAT offers an optional product sampling valve that can route reactor effluent to an external analytical device such as a gas chromatograph or mass spectrometer for downstream product analysis.
Which AMI reactor system is designed for biofuel research?
AMI offers BenchCAT systems specifically developed for biofuel research. Published AMI examples include systems for Fischer-Tropsch-related processing, catalytic conversion of alcohols, and transesterification of oils or lipids.
