Basic Principles in Applied Catalysis

Applied catalysis is based nowadays not only on empirical knowledge but also on the many insights, that have been gained from the fundamental understanding of catalysis. It also comprises knowledge and expertise from catalytic reaction engineering, in particular kinetics of the catalytic reaction and its interplay with heat and mass transfer as well as fluid dynamics and the specific conditions prevailing in the type of reactor used. Applied catalysis comprises many areas from a reaction point of view, many types of catalytic materials from which catalysts are formed are needed to achieve high selectivities and space-time yields, last but not least catalysts should have a long life time to which its deactivation is detrimental. A catalytic material that fulfils all the demands then often requires special mechanical and thermal treatment to be used in practise. Various books have been written about specific areas as mentioned above. It is the intention of this contribution to present timely reports by well-recognised experts in the field to outline the state of science and technology in selected but representative areas illustrating the basic principles of applied catalysis.