CHEMISTRY AND TECHNOLOGY OF CATALYSIS

The course falls among the training activities of the Bachelor degree program in Chemistry and Sustainable Technologies, dedicated to the deepening of the subjects related to the basic principles of Industrial Chemistry and the fundamentals of Catalysis.
The specific educational objective of the course is to provide the students with knowledge on the fundamentals of Catalysis, both homogeneous and heterogeneous, and its implications in Industrial Chemistry, by developing a critical mentality that allows them to understand how an industrial process is the result of a series of stages that must integrate and how an industrial catalyst can be modified and optimized depending on the needs, even engineering ones, of the different stages and ultimately how economic and environmental aspects are the key factors in the choice among different possible options.

• Improve the knowledge of Catalysis principles through the analysis of the essential components of a catalyst and their role within the catalytic phenomenon.
• Analyze some basic catalytic processes, emphasizing the role of the catalyst in the different process stages also in relationship with the improvement of the yield and selectivity in the desired reaction product.
• Understand the kinetic principles that allow to study a catalytic reaction mechanism and how the knowledge of the latter as well as of the thermodinamic aspects allow to choose among different types of reactor design.
• Understand how the knowledge of the above features integrate in the catalyst optimization process and impact on the economic and environmental consequences.
• Acquire the ability of comparatively evaluating the effectiveness of different synthetic strategies in terms of choice of reaction conditions and complexity of the different process unit operations.
• Know how to utilize the learned concepts to examine critically the characteristics of an industrial synthetic process.

The student must possess fundamental knowledge of Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry. It is therefore highly recommended that he/she has achieved the educational objectives of the above courses even if it is not required that he/she has passed the corresponding exam.

With respect to the educational objectives and the expected learning results reported in the sections above, the course contents can be divided as follows:
The catalysis phenomenon: Cyclic properties and impact on a reaction kinetcs - Fundamental properties of catalysts - Catalysts classification.
Homogeneous catalysis with transition metals: Binding properties of a transition metal - Electronic aspects - Steric aspects - Key steps in homogeneous catalysis.
Homogeneous industrial catalytic processes: Reactions of olefins and dienes - Synthesis of L-Dopa - Reactions of carbon monoxide - Acetic acid, hydroformylation - Oxidations of olefins - Wacker and Halcon processes, enantioselective oxidations - Oxidation of hydrocarbons with oxygen - Adipic and terephthalic acids - SHOP process.
Basic principles in heterogeneous catalysis: Adsorption on solid surfaces - Kinetic and mechanistic aspects in catalyzed reactions - Energy, steric and electronic aspects - Classification of solid catalysts - Redox and acid-base catalysts - Supported catalysts - Promoters, deactivation and regeneration of catalysts - Characterization - Production of heterogeneous catalysts - Zeolites and shape selective catalysts
Examples of heterogeneously catalyzed processes in industry.

• G. W. Parshall and S. D. Ittel, Homogeneus Catalysis, 2nd ed., Wiley 1992.
• G. C. Bond, Heterogeneous Catalysis, Oxford University Press 1987.
• J. Hagen, Industrial Catalysis, Wiley-VCH 1999.
• G.P. Chiusoli, P.M. Maitlis, Metal Catalysis in Industrial Organic Processes, The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2006
• Class notes, lecture handouts

The evaluation of learning takes place through an oral test. According to the timetable planned by the University, the student is invited to contact the teacher to set a date for the oral exam.
The exam consists of a series of open questions aimed at verifying the knowledge acquired by the student on the subjects of the program of the entire course (see contents section). The correct use of scientific language and the use of scientific symbology in chemistry will be also evaluated. The oral exam lasts from 45 to 60 minutes depending on the clarity and consistency of the answers to the asked questions. During the exam, the use of books, notes and electronic media is not permitted.

The course is organized in classroom lectures on the subjects reported in the content section.

Italian

Accommodation and support services for students with disabilities and students with specific learning impairments: Ca’ Foscari abides by Italian Law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) regarding support services and accommodation available to students with disabilities. This includes students with mobility, visual, hearing and other disabilities (Law 17/1999), and specific learning impairments (Law 170/2010). In the case of disability or impairment that requires accommodations (i.e., alternate testing, readers, note takers or interpreters) please contact the Disability and Accessibility Offices in Student Services: disabilita@unive.it.

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This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Climate change and energy" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development