How does Catalyst Deactivation Contribute to Quality Penalties?
Catalyst deactivation is a common issue that leads to quality penalties. _Thermal sintering_ can cause the active metal particles to agglomerate, reducing the surface area available for catalysis. _Coking_ can deposit carbonaceous materials on the catalyst surface, blocking active sites. Chemical degradation can also occur, especially in the presence of reactive gases like _oxygen_ or _chlorine_.