Source: Laboratory of Dr. Ryan Richards — Colorado School of Mines
Catalysis is among the most important fields of modern technology and presently accounts for approximately 35% of the gross domestic product (GDP) and sustenance of approximately 33% of the global population through fertilizers produced via the Haber process.1 Catalysts are systems that facilitate chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy and influencing the selectivity. Catalysis will be a central technology in addressing the energy and environmental challenges of modern times.
As a benchmark reaction, the catalytic application of nanoscale palladium particles can be extended to other fields. Similar to the reduction of 4-nitrophenol, which is a colorometric (the reaction is observed as a color change), the hydrogenation of chemical dyes can be accomplished with the same protocol. Chemical hydrogenation processes are very important in many industrial reactions as well as waste disposal. Researchers have found applications of catalysts in hydrogenation reactions in fields such as petrochemicals….
