Future Trends in Catalysis Research

Apart from these application related aspects, there are also several new metholo-gies in modern catalysis research that have already demonstrated their importance for the development of more efficient catalysts or processes. These include the following technologies  

An important property of a catalyst is also its ability to enhance the reaction rate of a chemical reaction (activity). This can be characterized (mainly for enzymatic and homogeneous catalysis) by the number of cycles per time, the turnover frequency (TOP). Alternatively, the catalyst activity can be given by the reaction rate referenced to some characteristic catalyst property, for example, the mass of a solid catalyst. 

More important than the rate accelerating effect is the ability to fevor a specific reaction pathway (selectivity) in the case of several thermodynamically possible pathways. 

Homogeneous catalysis and biocatalysis take place in the bulk of a solvent, which makes it complicated to separate the dissolved transition metal complex from the desired product. An elegant way to combine the advantages of homogeneous catalysis with an efficient way of catalyst recycling is liquid-liquid biphasic catalysis. 

During the operational lifetime of most catalysts, their activity decreases by deactivation. The time period of economic operation can be very different even for commercial catalysts and ranges from a couple of seconds to many years. Catalyst deactivation of heterogeneous catalysts can be attributed four processes  

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