Industrial Catalysis – Fundamentals and Applications (CHE 656)
Dr. Lucas Dorazio
Course Description:
The class provides an introduction to catalytic phenomena as well as catalysts. It
provides the background information necessary to understand industrial catalytic
processes. Examples which will be discussed are hydrogen, ammonia and methanol
synthesis, inorganic and organic oxidation reactions, petrochemical processes as well
as pollution abatement and other important processes. The course provides insight
into the theory of catalytic phenomena and also provides practical information about
these processes from an industrial perspective.
Course Objectives:
1. Provide the student the fundamental principles of heterogeneous catalysis
(catalyst design & function, common materials, reactor design).
2. Discuss chemistry and engineering of a collection of significant industrial catalytic
processes in order to:
a. Provide the student an overview of significant applications of catalysis.
b. Reinforce fundamental principles by discussing and comparing catalysts
and operating conditions associated with different applications
Contact Information
Email: ldd3@njit.edu
Textbook:
“Fundamentals of Industrial Catalytic Processes” C. W. Bartholomew and R. J. Farrauto
(2nd ed.) Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated
Grading:
Homework Assignments
25%
Quiz (2)
20%
Mid-Term Exam
25%
Final Exam
30%
Syllabus:
Week
1
Date Topic
9-Sep Introduction to Catalysis
Intro to course, "Industrial Catalysis" v "Environmental Catalysis"
Introduction to catalytic processes & fundamental concepts
Selectivity & Catalytic Reactions
Physical structure of catalyst
Concept of rate limiting step and apparent activation energy
Book Chapter
Chapter 1
2
16-Sep Catalyst Materials, Preparation, & Characterization
Common Materials used for catalysts
Catalyst Preparation
Catalyst Characterization
Chapter 2 & 3
3
23-Sep Fundamental Processes Occuring During Hetergeneous Catalysis
Physical processes occuring during catalytic process
Concept of reaction rate
Adsorption and surface kinetics
Rate of pore diffusion and bulk mass transfer
Chapter 1
4
30-Sep Reactor Design & Catalyst Deactivation
Concept of space velocity
Overview of Different Reactor Designs & Terminology
Fundamentals of Reactor Design
Overview of Catalyst Deactivation
Mechanisms for Deactivation
Chapter 4 & 5
5
7-Oct Industrial hydrogen manufacture
Feed pretreatment
Steam Reforming
Purification Processes
Ammonia Synthesis
6
7
8
QUIZ #1 (40-min)
14-Oct Fischer-Tropsch & Methanol synthesis
Fischer-Tropsch (syn-gas, catalysts, reactors, types of products)
Methanol synthesis
Review for Mid-Term (1-hour)
21-Oct **Guest Lecture** Petroleum Refining and Cracking
Introduction to petroleum and petroleum products
Catalytic cracking and hydrocracking
28-Oct Mid-Term (3-hours) -- Focus on Lectures 1-4
Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Chapter 9
Week
9
Date Topic
4-Nov Petroleum refining- continued
Hydrotreating
Naphtha reforming
Alkylation
Isomerization
Book Chapter
Chapter 9
10
11-Nov Hydrogenation and dehydrogenation
Hydrogenation of unsaturated fats and oils
Hydrogenation of aldehydes,acids, nitro-compounds etc.
Dehydrogenation of isobutane and propane
Chapter 8
11
18-Nov Homogeneous & Polymerization Catalysis
Chapter 12
12
QUIZ #2 (40 min)
25-Nov Oxidation catalysis
Inorganic oxidations (nitric acid synthesis and sulfuric acid synthesis)
Selective oxidation of butane to maleic anhydride
Selective oxidation of propylene to acrylic acid
Selective oxidation of propylene to propylene oxide
13
2-Dec Fuel Processing for Fuel Cells
14
Review for Final Exam (1-hour)
9-Dec Final Exam (In Class, 3-hours)
Chapter 8
Chapter 13