How Does the Type of Catalyst Affect Equipment Costs?
The type of catalyst employed in a reaction can have a substantial impact on equipment costs. For example, heterogeneous catalysts often require reactors that can facilitate solid-gas or solid-liquid interactions, which might necessitate more complex and expensive designs. On the other hand, homogeneous catalysts, which are typically in the same phase as the reactants, might necessitate additional separation equipment, like distillation columns, to recover and recycle the catalyst.
