Catalysis Engineering

Abstract

The purpose of the "Catalysis Engineering" course is to provide students with tools that enable the optimal design of catalytic materials and reactor engineering concepts favoring more sustainable manufacturing processes within the chemical industry.

Objective

The course aims at illustrating, from conception to implementation, the design of sustainable catalytic processes by integration of the microlevel (catalyst), mesolevel (reactor), and macrolevel (process). The word "sustainable" implies intensified processes with an improved exploitation of raw materials, wider use of renewable feedstocks, reduction of energy consumption, and minimized environmental impact. By the use of modern case studies of industrial relevance, aspects of catalyst preparation and characterization, kinetics, mass and heat transport, and deactivation are discussed. Emphasis is put on understanding the interaction among these basic elements in order to select the optimal catalytic process. Since no textbooks covering this area are available at this time and the intention of this course is unique, the lectures will be based on own texts and journal articles. During the course, there will be specific topics addressed by industrial contributors.

Content

The following general aspects: - Catalyst preparation and characterization - Kinetics - Mass and heat transport - Selectivity - Deactivation will be demonstrated for modern catalytic materials and processes of industrial relevance such as: - Chlorine recycling - N2O abatement - Chemoselective hydrogenations - Hierarchical zeolite catalysts - Syngas conversion - Biomass to chemicals and fuels

Resources