Dissertation discussing the results of experiments to study the behavior of superconductors under light illumination.

A high-pressure liquid-phase microreactor was developed to determine the kinetics and reaction networks of catalytic hydrodesulfurization and hydrodenitrogenation of polynuclear aromatic compounds found in coal-derived liquids. This reactor permits the use of small quantities of reactants and catalyst. This reactor design is expected to be useful generally and is not limited to hydroprocessing. The microreactor was designed to operate entirely in the liquid phase. The hydrogen required for the hydrogenation reactions is dissolved into the liquid phase before entering the reactor. A high total pressure is kept on the system, and no gas phase is ever permitted. Further, the system was designed to allow either the pulse or steady-state mode of operation. The specific design criteria were: hydrogen saturation pressure 0-61 atm, total pressure 0-272 atm, reactor temperatures up to 450/sup 0/C and space velocities between 1 and 10 (1/hr). The equipment has been operated at 21 atm hydrogen pressure and 104 atm total pressure over a range of temperatures and flow rates. A four-day test was conducted at steady-state conditions. The results indicate a significant break-in period for fresh catalyst.