Catalyst Technology And Its Effect on our Environment

​ Catalyst technology is crucial in modern industry and plays a large part in environmental

protection. The development of advanced materials and synthesis techniques is a major

opportunity for the field of chemistry to grow. Catalyst technology has a long and complex

history that dates back to the 18th century, when early experiments with gasses and combustion

first revealed the power of catalysts. The discovery of platinum as a catalyst in the early 19th

century marked a major turning point in catalyst research, paving the way for further advances in

the field. Catalyst technology is based on the principles of catalysis, which involves the

acceleration of a chemical reaction through the use of a catalyst. Catalysts work by lowering the

activation energy of a reaction, making it easier for reactants to form products, without being

used up themselves. Catalyst technology involves surface chemistry and materials science to

speed up chemical reactions. By reducing the amount of energy needed to start a reaction,

catalysts make it easier for reactants to turn into products. Advances in material science, artificial

intelligence, and sustainable manufacturing techniques are expected to drive the innovation of

catalysts.

​ Catalyst technology has a long and complex history that dates back to the 18th century,

when early experiments with gasses and combustion first revealed the transformative power of

catalysts. The discovery of platinum as a catalyst in the early 19th century marked a major

turning point in catalyst research, paving the way for further advances in the field. One of the

earliest known references to catalysis is from Johann Joachim Becher in 1746, who described the

properties of "terra pinguis," or "fat earth," which was later identified as alumina, a material with

catalytic properties (Ertl, 3525). In the early 1800s, Sir Humphry Davy discovered that platinum

could be used to catalyze the combustion of hydrogen and oxygen, which laid the foundation for
future research into catalytic materials. The mid-1800s saw the discovery of more catalytic

materials, including nickel, palladium, and copper, and the development of early industrial

applications of catalyst technology. In the early 20th century, scientists such as Irving Langmuir

and Paul Sabatier made significant contributions to our understanding of surface chemistry and

catalysis. Langmuir's work on surface science paved the way for the modern understanding of

catalysts as materials with specific surface properties, while Sabatier's research into the role of

hydrogen in catalysis earned him a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1912.

​ Catalyst technology involves physical and chemical processes that occur on the catalyst's

surface. One of the key concepts behind catalyst technology is the idea of catalytic cycles, which

involve the repeated formation and decomposition of active species on the catalyst surface (Bell

135). These cycles can involve multiple steps, such as adsorption, desorption, and reaction, and

can be influenced by a wide range of factors such as temperature, pressure, and reactant

concentration. Another important concept is the role of catalysts in altering reaction pathways,

which can lead to higher efficiency compared to traditional chemical processes (Machida et al.

245). Understanding these key concepts is essential for developing and optimizing catalysts for a

wide range of industrial and environmental applications, such as converting biomass into fuels,

reducing emissions from combustion processes, and producing specialty chemicals. The most

common use of catalysts is in catalytic converters used in cars. These converters speed up the

chemical reaction of the vehicle's exhaust and the atmosphere, producing water vapor, nitrogen

gas, and carbon dioxide.

Catalysis is a fundamental process in chemistry and plays a critical role in many

industrial processes. Catalysts work by providing an alternative reaction pathway with lower

activation energy, enabling reactants to form products more efficiently and selectively
(Hutchings 413). One of the key principles behind catalyst technology is the concept of surface

chemistry, which involves the interaction between a catalyst's surface and the reactants. This

interaction can result in the formation of intermediates which can then undergo further reactions

to form products. The surface of a catalyst is often modified with various functions, which can

affect the electronic properties of the catalyst and its interactions with reactants (Thomas and

Thomas 7). In addition to surface chemistry, the design and synthesis of catalysts also involve

considerations of properties, such as morphology, composition, and crystallinity. For example,

controlling the size and shape of catalyst nanoparticles can influence their surface area and

number of active sites, which in turn can affect their catalytic activity. Catalyst technology also

involves an understanding of reaction kinetics and thermodynamics, as well as the effects of

external variables such as temperature pressure. Catalysts work by lowering the activation energy

of a reaction, which is the energy barrier that must be overcome for the reaction to occur. This is

achieved by providing an alternative reaction pathway with lower energy requirements, which

can be accomplished by adsorbing the reactant molecules onto the catalyst surface and providing

them with the necessary energy to undergo the desired reaction (Thomas and Thomas 5-6).

The chemical principles of catalysis have been applied in a wide range of industrial

processes, including the production of fuels, plastics, and pharmaceuticals. In the petrochemical

industry, for example, catalysts are used to convert oil into gasoline, diesel, and other products.

In the pharmaceutical industry, catalysts are used to create complex molecules with high

efficiency. Additionally, catalysts play a critical role in environmental applications such as

pollution control and the conversion of renewable resources into energy (Thomas and Thomas

5).
 In recent years, there has been a growing interest in developing new types of catalysts

with improved selectivity, efficiency, and stability. One approach has been to design catalysts at

the nanoscale, where unique electronic and structural properties can be used to our advantage.

Another strategy has been to develop multifunctional catalysts that can perform multiple

reactions at the same time, increasing efficiency and reducing waste. Advances in computational

and theoretical methods have also allowed for more efficient catalyst design and optimization,

enabling researchers to predict the properties and performance of new catalysts before they are

created (Thomas and Thomas 9).

Catalyst technology has the potential to positively impact the environment by reducing

pollution levels. However, the use of certain materials in the production of catalysts, such as rare

and toxic metals, raises ethical concerns about the potential harm to human health and the

environment during the mining and disposal processes. Additionally, the development and

implementation of catalyst technology may perpetuate reliance on fossil fuels, rather than

promoting the shift towards more sustainable energy sources. These ethical considerations

highlight the need for thorough evaluation and regulation of catalyst production and use, as well

as continued research into alternative, more sustainable materials and energy sources.

​ Catalyst technology is crucial in modern industry and plays a large part in

environmental protection. The development of advanced materials and synthesis techniques is a

major opportunity for the field of chemistry to grow. Advances in catalyst technology continue to

drive innovation in many industries, including energy production, chemical synthesis, and

environmental remediation. However, there are some ethical considerations that come with

catalyst technology. The development of catalysts will only strengthen our reliance on fossil

fuels, and the production of catalysts is heavily dependent on burning fossil fuels.
 Works Cited

●​ Ertl, Gerhard. "Catalytic Processes: Historical Overview and Future

Perspectives." Angewandte Chemie International Edition, vol. 47, no. 19, 2008,

pp. 3524-3535.

●​ Bell, Alexis T. “The Impact of Nanoscience on Heterogeneous Catalysis.”

Science, vol. 299, no.5613,2003, pp. 1688-1691. Science,

doi:10.1126/science.1083671
●​ Machida, Masato, et al. “Designing for Biomass Conversion. “Accounts of

Chemical Research, vol. 47, no. 8, 2014, pp. 2454-2463.ACS Publications,

doi:10.1021/ar500164c.

●​ Hutchings, Graham J. "Catalysis: Beyond the Limits." Nature Chemistry, vol. 1,

no. 7, 2009, pp. 413-414. Nature Publishing Group, doi: 10.1038/nchem.336.

●​ Thomas, John Meurig, and W. John Thomas. "Principles and Practice of

Heterogeneous Catalysis." Catalysis Science & Technology, vol. 1, no. 1, 2011,

pp. 3-16. Royal Society of Chemistry, doi: 10.1039/C0CY00095E.