NKEB11006U Catalysis and Sustainable Chemistry (CatChem)

Volume 2014/2015
Education
BSc Programme in Chemistry
Content

The course gives an introduction into catalysis and its relation to green and sustainable chemistry. We thereby focus on heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis. The course starts with a definition what catalysis is and why catalytic processes are favourable over stoichiometric reactions. The basic concepts of catalysis are introduced based on examples from heterogenous and homogeneous catalytic reactions. The students learn how to describe reaction kinetics, approximation methods for the description and evaluation of reaction rates, how to perform and analyse catalytic reactions, and how to characterize physical properties of catalysts.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge:
Definition of Green and Sustainable Chemistry
Definition of a catalyst
Fundamental principles of catalytic processes
Difference between heterogeneous, homogeneous and biocatalytic processes
Mathematical description of catalytic processes
Methods for catalyst characterization

Skills:
Determine how ecofriendly a process is.
Describing catalytic processes mathematically.

Competences:
To be able to critically asses catalytic processes

Book
Catalysis
Concepts and Green Applications
First edition, February 2008;
Hardcover, 279 + XIII Pages;
Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, Germany
ISBN-10: 3-527-31824-0.
ISBN-13: 978-3-527-31824-7

Lecture slides and copies.

It is expected that the students are familiar with the content of the courses MatIntro, KemiO, KemiU1, KemiU2, KemiBin, AnvSpek and FysKem1
A mix of lecturers and tutorials/group work. Visits to companies working in the field of catalysis.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 2
  • Excursions
  • 4
  • Lectures
  • 42
  • Practical exercises
  • 24
  • Preparation
  • 134
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written examination, 3 hours under invigilation
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Exam registration requirements
To parcitipate in the exam four of the five obligatory assignments must be graded as passed.
Aid
Only certain aids allowed

A non programmable pocket calculator is allowed.

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
several internal evaluators
Re-exam
The exam will be held as an oral examination (20 minutes) if 10 or less students.
Criteria for exam assesment


After the course the student ought to be able to:

  • determine the E-factor of a reaction
  • discuss the greeness and sustainability of a process
  • calculate TOFs for reactions
  • define what a catalyst is and discuss the different fields of catalysis
  • calculate, determine and discuss catalytic and kinetic parameter, such as an activation barrier, reaction order, rate equations, elementary reaction steps
  • discuss degradation mechanisms of catalysts and TON
  • discuss basic catalytic principles
  • explain and discuss methods and techniques for characterizing catalysts and catalytic processes