Patent ID: 7435598

Claim:
Apparatus for the sequential testing of a plurality of catalyst samples, the apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of reactor tubes into which catalyst samples have been preloaded; (b) a support for receiving said preloaded reactor tubes; (c) a reaction zone; (d) a programmable device for transporting each of said preloaded reactor tubes sequentially from said support to said reaction zone and for sealing each reactor tube when in said reaction zone; (e) a heater for heating the catalyst sample in each reactor tube when said tube is in said reaction zone; (f) means for supplying at least one preheated feed to each preloaded reactor tube when said tube is in said reaction zone; and (g) a product collection and analysis system for collecting and analyzing at least part of any reaction product generated when each preloaded reactor tube is in said reaction zone and said at least one preheated feed is supplied to said reactor tube to contact the heated catalyst sample in said tube, wherein said heater is movable between an open position, in which a preloaded reactor tube can be transported by said programmable device into the reaction zone, and a closed position, in which said heater substantially surrounds the tube.