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Catalysis : an Integrated Approach to Homogeneous ...

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8 - PREPARATION OF CATALYST SUPPORTS AND ZEOLITES 327<br />

the case of catalysts the use of binders is restricted. If there is poor adherence the<br />

spheres are very weak <strong>an</strong>d it will also be impossible <strong>to</strong> impregnate these spheres<br />

with a water-soluble salt.<br />

8.5.4 Pelletization<br />

In this shaping process a powder is pressed between two punches in a pellet-<br />

ing press. The three different steps in the process are presented in Fig. 8.11. In step<br />

I the free-flowing powder is poured in<strong>to</strong> the cylindrical hole. In step 11 the lower<br />

punch <strong>an</strong>d the upper punch are moving <strong>to</strong>wards each other <strong>an</strong>d the powder is<br />

pressed at a pressure of about lo2 - 5 x lo3 atm <strong>an</strong>d a pellet is formed. In step III<br />

the upper punch moves upwards <strong>an</strong>d the lower punch pushes the pellet out of<br />

the hole. In the next step the pellet is moved away, the lower punch moves<br />

downwards <strong>an</strong>d the hole is filled again.<br />

The schematic diagram shows that it is obvious that it is very import<strong>an</strong>t <strong>to</strong> use<br />

a free-flowing powder. The catalyst m<strong>an</strong>ufacturers use machines containing<br />

about 50 punches mounted in a circle. They produce 50,000 <strong>to</strong> 100,000 pellets/h.<br />

Because of the very rapid processing the hole must be filled in a reproducible way<br />

in less th<strong>an</strong> one second. The filling of the hole determines the weight of the pellet.<br />

The grains of the free-flowing powder must be deformable during the pelleting<br />

process <strong>to</strong> form good pellets. Wear is <strong>an</strong> import<strong>an</strong>t problem <strong>an</strong>d lubric<strong>an</strong>ts like<br />

graphite, stearic acid, aluminium stearate <strong>an</strong>d talc are used <strong>to</strong> reduce this wear<br />

problem. These lubric<strong>an</strong>ts or plasticizers also act as a lubric<strong>an</strong>t between the<br />

powder particles <strong>an</strong>d improve the compacting of the powder <strong>an</strong>d the formation<br />

of the pellet.<br />

.-<br />

I I1 I11 I<br />

Fig. 8.11. Three steps of the pelletization process.

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