The Institute of Chemical Technology at Germany’s University of Stuttgart is leading research efforts to find improved catalysts for the production of phthalic anhydride, a primary precursor for the production of plasticizers. Previous research in this area has been limited by the need to maintain an extremely low concentration of the o-xylene reactant (<1%) in the catalytic reactor to avoid hot spots and explosive mixtures. Stuttgart researchers have developed a new method that is able to safely incorporate higher concentrations of o-xylene, which provide more predictive results. This method successfully utilizes an Equilibar® back pressure regulator to provide stable low pressure control despite high temperatures and a wide range of conditions.
Read Customer Case Study: Stable pressure control in Plasticizer Research.
