Catalyst degradation can result from various factors such as thermal stress, chemical poisoning, sintering, and mechanical wear. Thermal stress occurs when catalysts are exposed to high temperatures, causing structural changes. Chemical poisoning happens when impurities in the reactants bind to catalytic sites, rendering them inactive. Sintering refers to the agglomeration of catalyst particles, which reduces the surface area available for reactions. Lastly, mechanical wear can result from physical abrasion or erosion during the reaction process.
