Duhok Polytechnic University
Duhok Technical College of Engineering
Dept: Petrochemical Engineering
• Introduction
to Catalyst Science & Technology
Lab.
Year
By
Mr. Mohammed Mahmoud
Email: [email protected]
Lab. Grading Scheme
Groups:
The class is divided into three groups. Each groups A, B
& C sub-divided into 3 groups. A single pre-lab write-up
and lab report are to be submitted per group.
Lab. Marks / Grades Distribution
No. Activity Marks Note
1. Lab Report: 5
2. Attendance & lab work 1
3. Quiz 4
4. Pre-Final Exam 10
5. Final Exam 30
Report Marking
The lab report marks are distributed as follows
(out of 5):
No. Activity Mark Note
1. Purpose of experiments & Structure 1
2. Theory Part 1
3. Results ,graphs, calculations etc: 2
4. Discussion & Conclusions: 1
Lab. Weights
• Exp.
Exp. (1) Decomposition of by
(2) Enzyme Experiments
Exp. (3) Determination of adsorption isotherm of acetic acid on
activated charcoal.
Exp. (4) The Effect of Temperature on Enzymatic Activity
Exp. (5) Acid Catalyst of Esterification of benzoic Acid & Ethanol
Exp. (6) Base Catalyst of Aldol Condensation
Exp. (7) Cracking of Paraffin
Exp. (8) The affect of pH on enzyme
Exp. (9) Catalysts and Oxygen
Exp. (10) Inhibition of Hydrogen Peroxide
Exp. (11) Catalysis of the reaction between zinc and sulfuric acid
Exp. (12) Decomposition of by KI
Exp. (13) Autocatalytic
Exams
Written Exams
Oral Exams
Practical Exams
Pattern of Questions
Explain
True & False
Multiple Choice MCQ
Numerate
Mathematic
Graph & Plot
Short Answer
Catalysts and Catalysis
Catalyst: any substance that increases the rate of a
reaction without itself being consumed.
Catalysis: is the process of increasing the rate of a
chemical reaction by adding a substance known
as a catalyst.
Most solid catalysts are metals or the oxides,
sulfides, and halides of metallic elements. Gaseous
and liquid catalysts are commonly used in their
pure form or in combination with suitable carriers
or solvents.
Catalytic processes and their catalysts
Process Catalyst
Ammonia synthesis Iron
Sulfuric acid manufacture Nitrogen(II) oxide, platinum
Cracking of petroleum Zeolites
Hydrogenation of unsaturated
hydrocarbons Nickel, platinum, or palladium
Oxidation of hydrocarbons in Copper(II) oxide, vanadium(V)
automobile exhausts oxide, platinum, palladium
Isomerization of n-butane to Aluminum chloride, hydrogen
isobutane chloride
Properties of Catalyst
1. The catalyst remains unchanged in mass and in chemical
composition at the end of the reaction.
2. Only a small quantity of catalyst is generally needed.
3. A Catalyst doesn’t Change the state of equilibrium of a
reaction:
A catalyst increases the rate of both the forward &
backward reaction equally. Hence catalyst doesn’t
influence the state of equilibrium of a reversible reaction
but equilibrium is attained earlier.
Properties of Catalyst
4. Catalysts are specific in their action, here catalysts are
specific in their action.
• Activity and Selectivity
• Complete oxidation example (nonselective)
C2 H 4 3O2 2CO2 2 H 2O
Pt
• Partial oxidation example (selective)
1
C2 H 4 O2
V2O5
CH 3CHO
2
(aldehyde)
Properties of Catalyst
5. A catalyst doesn’t start a reaction.
6. Effect of Temperature:
Activity of a catalyst is maximum at a definite temperature
which is known as optimum temperature.
7. Activity of Finely divided Catalyst is Greater:
It is because surface area of finely divided catalyst is
greater.
Properties of Catalyst
8. A catalyst can open a
new reaction pathway
with lower activation
energy.
Both the net enthalpy (△H) and net free energy
(△G) are unaffected by the presence of the
catalyst. (and consequently the equilibrium
constant(Ke).
How do catalysts work?
A catalyst increases reaction rates in a slightly different
way from other methods of increasing reaction rate. The
function of a catalyst is to lower the activation energy so
that a greater proportion of the particles have enough
energy to react. A catalyst can lower the activation
energy for a reaction by:
Orienting the reacting particles in such a way that
successful collisions are more likely.
Reacting with the reactants to form an intermediate
that requires lower energy to form the product.
NO(g) + NO3(g) → 2NO2(g)
There is only one
relative orientation of
these two molecules
that leads to an
effective collision.
Mechanism of Catalyst
The following is an example of how a reaction involving a
catalyst might proceed. A and B are reactants, C is the
catalyst, and D is the product of the reaction of A and B.
Step 1: A + C → AC
Step 2: B + AC → ACB
Step 3: ACB → C + D
ACB represents the intermediate chemical. The chemical
intermediate is sometimes called the activated complex.
Mechanism of Catalyst
Although the catalyst (C) is consumed by reaction 1, it
is later released again by reaction 3, so that the overall
reaction with a catalyst is as follows:
A + B + C → D + C
You can see from this that the catalyst is released at the
end of the reaction, completely unchanged. Without a
catalyst the overall reaction would be:
A + B → D
The science and technology of catalysis is great of
significance as it affects our daily life. Four major sectors
of the world economy involve catalyst processes.
Types of Catalyst
Heterogeneous catalysts Photo catalysts
Homogeneous catalysts Auto catalysts
Enzymes and biocatalysts
Organo catalysts
Electro catalysts
Nano catalysts
Tandem catalysts
Homogeneous vs. Heterogeneous Catalyst
Zeolite catalyst Catalyst powders
Homogeneous catalysis Heterogeneous catalysis
Single phase Multiphase
(Typically liquid) (Mostly solid-liquid and solid-gas)
Low temperature High temperature
Separations are tricky Design and optimization tricky
Enzyme & Biocatalyst
• Highly specific
• Highly selective
• Highly efficient
• Catalyze very difficult
reactions
– N2 NH3
– CO2 + H2O C6H12O6
Triosephosphateisomerase
“TIM”
• Works better in a cell
Cytochrome C Oxidase than in a reactor
Highly tailored “active sites”
Often contain metal atoms
Electrocatalysts
In the context of electrochemistry, specifically in fuel cell engineering,
various metal-containing catalysts are used to enhance the rates of
the half reactions that comprise the fuel cell. One common type of
fuel cell electrocatalyst is based upon nanoparticles of platinum that
are supported on slightly larger carbon particles. When in contact
with one of the electrodes in a fuel cell, this platinum increases the
rate of oxygen reduction.
Nanocatalysts
Nanocatalysts are nanomaterials with catalytic activities. They have
been extensively explored for wide range of applications. Among
them, the nanocatalysts with enzyme mimicking activities are
collectively called as nanozymes.
Tandem catalysis
In tandem catalysis two or more different catalysts are coupled in a
one-pot reaction.
Photocatalysts
Photocatalysis is the phenomenon where the catalyst can receive
light (such as visible light), be promoted to an excited state, and then
undergo intersystem crossing with the starting material, returning to
ground state without being consumed. The excited state of the
starting material will then undergo reactions it ordinarily could not if
directly illuminated. For example, singlet oxygen is usually produced
by photocatalysis.
Autocatalysis
In autocatalysis, the catalyst is a product of the overall reaction, in
contrast to all other types of catalysis considered in this article. The
simplest example of autocatalysis is a reaction of type A + B → 2 B, in
one or in several steps. The overall reaction is just A → B, so that B is
a product. But since B is also a reactant, it may be present in the rate
equation and affect the reaction rate. As the reaction proceeds, the
concentration of B increases and can accelerate the reaction as a
catalyst. In effect, the reaction accelerates itself or is autocatalyzed.
