Scientific Sessions

Heterogeneous catalysis is a phenomenon in which a solid material speeds up a chemical reaction without being part of the reaction's overall stoichiometric equation. Sequences of reactions involving fluid-phase reagents and the exposed layer of the solid catalyst surface are commonly used in heterogeneous catalysis. Because of its ability to accelerate a chemical reaction to equilibrium and to selectively accelerate a desirable chemical reaction of complex chemical processes to equilibrium, heterogeneous catalysis by solids plays a vital role in the chemical industry and environmental remediation. Homogeneous catalysis is a central concept in modern chemical processes, providing a mechanism for reactions to occur under controlled conditions, leading to high yields and minimal byproducts. The catalyst, being in the same phase as the reactants, interacts intimately with the molecules involved in the reaction, promoting faster and more efficient transformations