Emmett, Paul ammonia synthesis

Paul Emmett Fixed Nitrogen Laboratory Ammonia synthesis... 

It all started in 1938 when Temkin first applied transition state theory to heterogeneous catalysis. Soon after, he published with V. Pyzhev one of the most frequently cited papers in catalytic ammonia synthesis. Since both Mikhail Temkin and Paul Emmett had a profound influence on the theory and practice of this famous reaction, it seems proper to quote here Emmett s assessment of the 1939-1940 paper of Temkin and Pyazhev. ... 

In addition to the BET equation, Paul Emmett made enduring contributions to the experimental determination of gas-solid equilibria and the understanding of ammonia synthesis over iron-based catalysts. He also pioneered the development of selective chemisorption methods to estimate the surface composition of multicomponent catalysts and the use of tracer methods to explore the mechanism of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and catalytic cracking. 

In the pre-World War II days there was little work done at Princeton on synthesis of catalysts. Copper catalysts were made by reduction of Kahlbaum copper oxide, the iron ammonia catalysts were obtained from the Fixed Nitrogen Laboratory through the courtesy of Dr. Paul Emmett, the nickel on kleselguhr catalyst was obtained from DuPont. Platinum on asbestos was made in the laboratory by soaking asbestos with chloroplatinic acid and then igniting it, mixed chromite catalysts were precipitated and calcined and a study was made. 

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