Commercialisation and Scale-Up

The main failure for the establishment of a gold catalyst market, has been the fact that large-scale production of gold catalysts is rather difficult. Issues such as gold particle size, reproducibility and deactivation are a worry. This coupled with the fact that the preparation of gold catalysts relies on a synthesis technique completely different to that currently employed when producing other PGM catalysts, have prevented the large scale production of gold catalysts to date.

Research at AuTEK has been directed at overcoming these hurdles, and indeed the project AuTEK consortium now has the capability to produce significant quantities of gold catalysts in a form suitable for use in a range of applications. AuTEK has aligned itself with a world-class catalyst producer and is ready to collaborate with end-users in the pollution control, chemical processing, and fuel cell industries to design gold based catalysts for their specific needs.

Ordering Standard AUROlite^TM Catalysts

AuTEK distributes small quantities (<2kg) of its ‘standard’ AUROlite^TM gold catalysts through STREM chemicals.

The materials available include:

• 1wt% Au/Al₂O₃ - approx. 1.2 mm dia. × 5 mm (avg) extrudates – Strem catalogue number: 79-0160
• 1wt% Au/TiO₂ - 1.5 mm dia. × 5 mm (avg) extrudates – Strem catalogue number: 79-0165
• 1wt% Au/ZnO - approx. 1-2 mm dia. granulate – Strem catalogue number: 79-0170

To obtain a quote and place an order please see:

www.strem.com or email: order@strem.com

Ordering Catalyst - Custom Made Catalyst Service

To obtain a quote and place an order on an AuTEK produced gold catalysts please contact:

• Jason McPherson, Scale-up and Commercialisation Unit, Project AuTEK, jasonm@mintek.co.za, tel: +27 11 709 4182

Please specify any requirements and contact / delivery information:

• Quantity: based on weight and / or volume - minimum order quantity - 500 grams
• Support material: TiO₂, ZnO, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃ or others on request
• Catalyst particle shape / size: powders / granulate / extrudates
• Gold loading: 0.2 - 2.5 wt% as desired
• Delivery address: please specify both a physical and postal address
• Contact details: please specify telephone, fax, and email addresses
• Cost: A charge relating to the type and quantity of support, the gold loading requested, a manufacturing cost and an airfreight / transport will be levied.
• Production / delivery time: these vary based on the materials ordered and customer location. AuTEK typically keeps batches of "standard" catalysts in stock and delivery can be as fast as five working days upon acceptance of a quote. Alternatively if catalyst production is required a delivery time will be specified.

Catalyst Optimisation / Product Development

AuTEK catalysis has been working with specific end-users and companies in developing gold catalysts for specific applications. AuTEK therefore welcomes any queries regarding collaborative product development, gold catalyst optimisation, catalyst scale-up, or large-scale gold catalyst supply / production enquiries.

Please direct all enquiries to:

• Dr Elma van der Lingen, Head, Project AuTEK, elmavdl@mintek.co.za, tel: +27 11 709 4471