What is catalysis?

What is catalysis?

Catalysts are the workhorses of the chemical industry. Approximately 85-90% of the products of chemical industry are made in catalytic processes. Catalysts are indispensable in:

  • Production of transportation fuels in one of the approximately 440 oil refineries all over the world
  • Production of bulk and fine chemicals in all branches of chemical industry
  • Prevention of pollution by avoiding formation of waste (unwanted by-products)
  • Abatement of pollution in end-of-pipe solutions (automotive and industrial exhaust)


    • A catalyst offers an alternative, energetically favourable mechanism for the non-catalytic reaction, thus enabling processes to be carried out at industrially feasible conditions of pressure and temperature.