Heterogeneous catalysis commercial applications

In this section, we describe selected commercial applications of heterogeneous catalysts. The examples have been chosen to illustrate a range of catalyst types, as well as the development of motor vehicle catalytic converters. 

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The active components of many commercial supported heterogeneous catalysts are oxides or salts. Even for many metal catalysts, the precursors of metallic particles are also oxides or salts in some dispersed form. Hence the preparation of heterogeneous catalysts is deeply concerned in one way or another about the dispersion of oxides or salts on support surfaces. Furthermore, promoters or additives added to heterogeneous catalyst systems are also oxides or salts. Therefore, the spontaneous monolayer dispersion of oxides or salts on supports with highly specific surfaces as a widespread phenomenon will find extensive application in heterogeneous catalysis. Examples illustrative of this viewpoint are cited in the following sections. 

Thin metalhc fihns play an important role in diverse fields of applications, with special emphasis on micro- and nanoelectronics for which the metals Al, Cu, Ag, Au, Ti and W are essential Additional fields of commercial interests are electrodes as well as reflective, corrosion-resistant, oxidation-resistant and abrasion-resistant coatings . Noble metals (periods 5 and 6 of groups 8-11 of the periodic table of the elements) are of special interest due to their manifold application in heterogeneous catalysis. Other metals used in specialized industrial applications or as components of more complex materials such as metal alloys are Ni, Pd, Pt, Ag and Au. For example, FePt-based nanostructured materials are excellent candidates for future high-density magnetic recording media . ... 

Molecular sieve zeolites have become established as an area of scientific research and as commercial materials for use as sorbents and catalysts. Continuing studies on their synthesis, structure, and sorption properties will, undoubtedly, lead to broader application. In addition, crystalline zeolites offer one of the best vehicles for studying the fundamentals of heterogeneous catalysis. Several discoveries reported at this conference point toward new fields of investigation and potential commercial utility. These include phosphorus substitution into the silicon-aluminum framework, the structural modifications leading to ultrastable faujasite, and the catalytic properties of sodium mordenite. 

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