What are the Implications of Surface Saturation in Industrial Catalysis?
In industrial catalysis, operating conditions are often chosen to avoid surface saturation to maximize efficiency. For instance, in ammonia synthesis using the Haber-Bosch process, the reaction conditions are carefully controlled to maintain an optimal coverage of reactant molecules on the catalyst surface. If surface saturation occurs, it can lead to a decrease in the overall reaction rate, affecting the yield and economic viability of the process.