Plots of gas isotherms and ideal gas equation

High Pressure Lab

High-Pressure Hydrogenation Lab at the University of Guelph

Photograph of high-pressure hydrogenation reactors in the high-pressure lab.

The Schlaf Group operates the CFI-funded High-Pressure Hydrogenation at the University of Guelph.

The lab features three Autoclave Engineers Hastelloy batch reactors of switchable volumes (3 x 100 mL or 3 x 300 mL).

(From left to right Gödel, Escher, and Bach – yes we name our reactors, it’s a a thing …).

We invite inquiries from potential industrial partners interested in engaging in collaborative projects using this unique facility.

Operating parameters and capabilities:

  • Spark- and explosion-proof lab set-up with blow-out walls.
  • Remote operation and surveillance.
  • Up to 340 atm of hydrogen pressure at 500 oC.
  • Highly corrosion resistant.
  • Mass flow controllers enable measurement and control of hydrogen flow into reactors at temperature and pressure (… this enables direct kinetic measurements).
  • Injection of reactant or catalysts solution at temperature and pressure.
  • Liquid and/or gas sampling at temperature and pressure.

… and yes all students are trained on and use this facility !

Photograph of Drs. Sunhwa Lee (PDF 2015), Elnaz Latifi (Ph.D. 2017), Maryanne Stones (Ph.D. 2020) setting up a high-pressure hydrogenation reaction in the high-pressure lab.
Drs. Sunhwa Lee (PDF 2015), Elnaz Latifi (Ph.D. 2017), Maryanne Stones (Ph.D. 2020) setting up a high-pressure hydrogenation reaction.