Two Classes of Useful Chemical Transformations

Broadly the output from the chemical industry can be considered as falling into two classes, materials and effect chemicals. In the former class 

Reaction type Elements used Annual catalyst value, U.S. industry (Smillion) 

Product Product value ( /ton) Catalyst cost ( /ton product) Reference 

the spread of catalyst cost is fairly even over the whole industry and about a third of the known metals are used in one way or another. Table III shows how catalyst costs vary in relation to product value. 

To complete the picture, Fig. 1 shows a map of the major catalyst usages in the petrochemical, fuel, polymer, and fertilizer fields. 

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