What is Catalysis?
Catalysis is a process that increases the rate of a chemical reaction by adding a substance known as a
catalyst. This catalyst is not consumed in the reaction and can continue to act repeatedly.
Why is R&D in Catalysis Important?
Research and Development (R&D) in catalysis is crucial because it leads to the discovery of new catalysts and the improvement of existing ones. This can result in more efficient industrial processes, reduced energy consumption, and minimized environmental impact.
Homogeneous Catalysis: Catalysts that are in the same phase as the reactants, usually liquid.
Heterogeneous Catalysis: Catalysts that are in a different phase than the reactants, often solid catalysts in contact with gaseous or liquid reactants.
Enzyme Catalysis: Biological catalysts which are highly specific and operate under mild conditions.
Photocatalysis: Catalysts that use light to activate chemical reactions, often used in environmental applications like water purification.
Catalyst Discovery: Finding new catalysts that are more effective, selective, and stable.
Catalyst Deactivation: Understanding and preventing the loss of catalyst activity over time.
Scalability: Ensuring that catalytic processes can be scaled up from the laboratory to industrial levels.
Sustainability: Developing catalysts that are environmentally friendly and economically viable.
