apparatus for evaluating catalysts , including a multicell holder , e . g ., a honeycomb or plate , or a collection of individual support particles , is treated with solutions / suspensions of catalyst ingredients to produce cells , spots or pellets holding each of a variety of combinations of the ingredients , is dried , calcined or treated as necessary to stabilize the ingredients in the cells , spots or pellets , then is contacted with a potentially reactive feed stream or batch , e . g ., biochemical , gas oil , hydrogen plus oxygen , propylene plus oxygen , ccl 2 f 2 and hydrogen , etc . the reaction occurring in each cell can be measured , e . g ., by infrared thermography , spectroscopic detection of products or residual reactants , or by sampling , e . g ., multistreaming through low volume tubing , from the vicinity of each combination , followed by analysis , e . g ., spectral analysis , chromatography , etc ., or by observing temperature change in the vicinity of the catalyst , e . g ., by thermographic techniques , to determine the relative efficacy of the catalysts in each combination . robotic techniques can be employed in producing the cells , spots , pellets , etc .