CATALYSIS SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGIES

Course objectives

The main aim is to provide knowledge on the fundamental principles of heterogeneous catalysis and of the gas-solid reactivity. The course will be useful to acquire an integrated methodology to correlate structural and reactivity features of solid materials and gaseous reactants with kinetic and thermodynamics features of the reactions. Students are expected to: 1. learn, by following a multidisciplinary approach, the fundamental methods for the catalysts preparation and characterization (in the bulk and at the surface), the mechanisms of surface reactions (adsorption of reactants, surface reactions, desorption of products) and some applications of catalysts in industrial processes and for the solution of environmental problems. 2. use of a multidisciplinary approach by analysing examples from research or industry field. The student will apply the basic principles, previously acquired in the main courses of General, Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, to understand catalytic phenomena and will be able to evaluate in a qualitative and quantitative way: - the main kinetic parameters for describing catalysts activity and selectivity, paying attention to the diffusion aspects; - the main morphological and physico-chemical properties (composition, structure, dispersion) of the catalysts determining the catalytic performance. 3. move the first steps in the interpretation of experimental results reported in the scientific literature. 4. be able to present in a synthetic and appropriate way the acquired knowledge. 5. be able to argument his choices, thus facing further studies with a certain degree of autonomy.

Channel 1
DANIELA PIETROGIACOMI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
General aspects of heterogeneous catalysis. Steps of a catalytic reaction: chemisorption, surface reactions, desorption. Gas flow (kinetic theory). Atoms per surface unit, concentration of atoms in the bulk. Sticking probability, S. Steric factor. Coverage. Exponential factor. Rates of adsorption and desorption. Adsorption heat. Adsorption isotherms (Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin). Criteria to distinguish the physical adsorption from chemisorption. Surface heterogeneity. Active centers. Reaction mechanisms (Langmuir-Hinshelwood e Eley-Rideal). Elementary steps of a catalytic reaction. (12 lecture hours) Examples of catalytic reactions. Catalytic activity and selectivity. Acid formic decomposition (Sabatier principle). Alkenes hydrogenation with deuterium (Horiuty-Polanyi mechanism). Geometric factor and "Volcano" plot. Reaction network of acetylene hydrogenation. Kinetic and thermodynamic factors affecting the selectivity. Correlations between the electronic structure and catalytic activity. (12 lecture hours) Catalyst preparation. Supported catalysts. Main supports (alumina, silica, carbon, titania, zirconia). Impregnation method. Equilibrium adsorption method. Isoelectric point. Catalysts prepared by means of chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Solid solutions of transition metal ions. Zeolites in heterogeneous catalysis. Ionic exchange. (8 lecture hours) Catalyst characterization. Temperature programmed reduction (TPR). Bronsted and Lewis acid-base properties of surface sites. Spectroscopic characterization of catalyst surfaces by FTIR of probe molecules. (10 lecture hours) Environmental catalysis. Abatement of air pollutants from mobile or stationary sources. NO abatement with ammonia in the presence of oxygen on catalysts VOx/TiO2. Catalytic converter (three-way catalyst, TWC). NO and N2O decomposition. NOx abatement with hydrocarbons on zeolites. (12 lecture hours)
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of General, Inorganic and Physical Chemistry
Books
Slides of the lessons and lecture notes provided by the teacher. S.J. Thomson and G. Webb, “Heterogeneous Catalysis”, Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh and London 1968 M. Boudart and G- DJéga-Mariadassou, "Kinetic of heterogeneous Catalytic Reactions”, Princeton University Press 1984 - J.M. Thomas, W.J. Thomas, “Principle and Practice of Heterogeneous Catalysis”, VCH 1997 - Chemisorption, Hayward and Trapnell, Butterworths Ed., 1964 - J.M. Thomas, W.J. Thomas, “Principle and Practice of Heterogeneous Catalysis”, VCH 1997 - Chemisorption, Hayward and Trapnell, Butterworths Ed., 1964
Teaching mode
lectures with the help of slides
Frequency
recommended
Exam mode
oral interview to assess the achievement of the expected objectives
Lesson mode
lectures with the help of slides
  • Lesson code1020331
  • Academic year2024/2025
  • CourseIndustrial Chemistry
  • CurriculumAmbiente Risorse Energia e Sicurezza (ARES)
  • Year1st year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDCHIM/03
  • CFU6
  • Subject areaDiscipline chimiche