High-quality characterization data to control structure, tune performance, and accelerate development from discovery to production.
Catalyst innovation starts with clarity. Malvern Panalytical delivers the high‑quality data catalyst developers rely on to control surface properties, tune particle size, engineer pore structure, and unlock higher activity and stability. From discovery to scale‑up, our characterization solutions reveal how materials truly behave, empowering researchers and manufacturers to design catalysts that perform reliably under real‑world conditions.
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Malvern Panalytical offers integrated analytical solutions that connect material properties to real-world catalyst performance, from early R&D through to scale-up and QC all supported by ASTM-compliant methodologies.
| Application Need | Primary Technique | What It Measures / Why It Matters | Recommended Instrument Type | Associated Norm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verify metal loading (Pt, Pd, Ni, Co, etc.) | XRF | Elemental composition; loading accuracy | Zetium or Epsilon range | |
| Detect catalyst poisons (S, P, Cl, Na, V) | XRF | Trace impurities and contaminants | Zetium | |
| Check batch-to-batch formulation consistency | XRF | Elemental uniformity across batches | Zetium or Epsilon range | ASTM D7085 |
| Confirm crystalline phases | XRD | Phase identification versus references | Empyrean or Aeris | ASTM D4926 / ASTM D3906 / ASTM D3942 |
| Monitor phase changes during heating/reaction | In situ / operando XRD | Structural evolution in real time | Empyrean | |
| Quantify crystallite size & strain | XRD (Rietveld) | Microstructure and sintering behaviour | Empyrean or Aeris | |
| Determine oxidation state | XAS (XANES) | Valence state of active metals | Empyrean | |
| Identify local atomic coordination | XAS (EXAFS) | Bond distances, neighbouring atoms and disorder | Empyrean | |
| Measure BET surface area | Physisorption | Total accessible surface area | 3Flex / TriStar II / Gemini VII / ASAP | ASTM D3663 / ASTM D4222 / ISO 9277 |
| Single-point BET | Physisorption | Dynamic single-point surface area measured in situ | AutoChem III / ChemiSorb Auto / 3Flex. ICCS for in-situ analysis. | ASTM D4567 |
| Determine pore size and volume distribution | Mercury Porosimetry & Gas Adsorption | Micro-, meso- and macro-pore structure | AutoPore V (Part 1) & Physisorption (Part 2) | ISO 15901-1 / ISO 15901-2 |
| Pore volume distribution | Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry | Pore volume distribution | AutoPore V | ASTM D4284 |
| Evaluation of pore size distribution and porosity of solid materials by mercury porosimetry and gas adsorption | Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry | Evaluation of pore size distribution and porosity of solid materials by mercury porosimetry and gas adsorption | AutoPore V | ISO 15901-1 |
| Measure through-pore size | Porometry | Through-pore size distribution | AccuPore | |
| Quantify active metal dispersion | Static Chemisorption | Number of active surface sites | 3Flex / ChemiSorb HTP (where available) | ASTM D3908 |
| Determine metal surface area | Static Chemisorption | Dispersion and metal crystallite size | 3Flex / ChemiSorb HTP (where available) | ASTM D3908 |
| Determine catalyst acidity | Static Chemisorption | Catalyst acidity measurement | 3Flex / ChemiSorb HTP (where available) | ASTM D4824 |
| Study reduction / oxidation behaviour | TPR / TPO / TPD | Temperature-dependent chemistry | AutoChem III / ChemiSorb Auto / 3Flex. ICCS for in-situ analysis. | |
| Evaluate catalyst activation | TPR | Reduction profiles | AutoChem III / ChemiSorb Auto / 3Flex. ICCS for in-situ analysis. | |
| Evaluate catalyst deactivation / coking | TPO | Quantify CO / CO₂ production | AutoChem III / ChemiSorb Auto / 3Flex. ICCS for in-situ analysis. | |
| Evaluate catalyst chemistry (acidic, basic, redox) | TPD & TPSR | Decomposition / desorption of NH₃, CO₂, amines and MeOH | AutoChem III | |
| Evaluate heat of desorption (HOD) | TPD | Desorption profiles under differing ramp rates | AutoChem III / ChemiSorb Auto / 3Flex. | |
| Characterize coke formation / deactivation | TGA / Raman / DRIFTS / TPO | Decomposition and surface species characterization | Morphologi 4-ID / Chemisorption | |
| Analyze particle size of powders | Laser Diffraction | Particle size distribution | Mastersizer | ASTM D4464 |
| Analyze nanoparticles and colloids | DLS | Hydrodynamic particle size | Zetasizer | |
| Evaluate slurry stability | DLS / Rheology | Dispersion and flow properties | Zetasizer | |
| Determine particle shape and morphology | Automated Imaging | Shape factors and agglomeration | Morphologi-4 | |
| Identify surface intermediates | Raman / DRIFTS | Reaction pathways | Morphologi 4-ID | |
| Monitor deactivation pathways | TGA / XRD / Gas Adsorption | Coke formation, sintering and phase changes | TGA + XRD + Gas Adsorption | |
| Full catalyst lifecycle workflow | Integrated Multimodal Approach | Structure-property-performance relationships | Combined XRD + XRF + Sorption Suite | |
| Catalyst activity and performance | FR100 & FR200 | Flexible options for gas and liquid catalysis at temperature and pressure | FR Series Reactor Technology | |
| Process development | Pilot Plant | Bespoke reactor systems to enable scale-up | Pilot Plant | |
| True density | Gas Pycnometry | True density from raw materials to finished product; composition sensitive. Suitable for solids, liquids and slurries. | AccuPyc | ASTM D6761 / ISO 12154 |
| Envelope & bulk density | Pycnometry | Determine envelope and bulk density. Use with AccuPyc to calculate porosity. | GeoPyc | |
| Powder rheology | Rheology | Process-relevant measurements to understand required powder characteristics | FT4 | ASTM D7891 / ASTM D8328 / ASTM D8327 |
Quantifying active site concentration and performance
Packing behavior, flow performance, and mechanical stability
Meso, macro, and through pore structure for real world catalyst performance
Particle size, shape, flowability, and stability analysis
From bench scale insight to pilot scale confidence
Phase identification and structural evolution
Elemental composition and metal loading
