Catalysis and Chemical Engineering

Fundamentals and types of Catalysis

Catalysis is used to increase the rate of a chemical reaction by adding a substance called as a catalyst. It is not consumed in the catalysed reaction it can also be used repeatedly. Because of this reaction very small amounts of catalyst are required to alter the reaction rate.  Catalysis plays a major role in giving the society with fine chemicals, fuels, pharmaceuticals.  It also helps the human kind in protecting  environment. Now a days, in present scenario chemical industries mainly depends on catalysis. More than 80% of the chemical reactions are catalytic processes which mainly produces some of the materials like plastics, synthetic rubbers, fabrics, cosmetics etc.  It involves catalytic processes, production of clean energy from the renewable energy sources, such as hydrogen for fuel cells and transportation fuels from non-edible biomass which are catalyst dependent processes. Catalysts are used in the production of polymers including adhesives, coatings, foams, textile and industrial fibres.