Catalysts: Powering Progress in Chemistry
Catalysts are substances that accelerate chemical reactions by lowering activation energy, without being consumed in the process. They play a pivotal role in manufacturing, with over 90% of chemical products involving catalytic processes at some stage.
- Efficiency: Catalysts speed up reactions, reducing energy and resource consumption.
- Innovation: Enable the creation of new products and processes.
- Ubiquity: Found in everyday items like plastics, fuels, pharmaceuticals, and even food.
Nickel Catalysts
- Used in processes like carbon-carbon bond formation and hydrogenation.
- Available forms: Raney Nickel, nickel alloys, and various nickel oxidation states (Ni(0), Ni(II), etc.).
Industrial Catalysts
- Essential in petroleum refining (e.g., catalytic cracking, naphtha reforming).
- Key for large-scale chemical production (e.g., ammonia, methanol).
Environmental Catalysts
- Found in catalytic converters, reducing harmful emissions.
- Aid in processes like biodiesel production and water-gas shift reactions.
Biocatalysts
- Used in food processing and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
- Energy Processing: Transforming hydrocarbons into fuels or synthesis gas.
- Bulk Chemicals: Production of acids, polymers, and other large-scale materials.
- Fine Chemicals: Creation of high-value compounds like pharmaceuticals.
- Environmental Protection: Breaking down pollutants, such as in ozone layer protection.
Specialized processes allow efficient recycling of materials like nickel from spent batteries and alloys, supporting a sustainable future.