New atomic-scale understanding of catalysis could unlock massive energy savings

In an advance they consider a breakthrough in computational chemistry research, chemical engineers have developed a model of how catalytic reactions work at the atomic scale. This understanding could allow engineers and chemists to develop more efficient catalysts and tune industrial processes — potentially with enormous energy savings, given that 90% of the products we encounter in our lives are produced, at least partially, via catalysis.

more…

Tau.Neutrino said:

New atomic-scale understanding of catalysis could unlock massive energy savings

In an advance they consider a breakthrough in computational chemistry research, chemical engineers have developed a model of how catalytic reactions work at the atomic scale. This understanding could allow engineers and chemists to develop more efficient catalysts and tune industrial processes — potentially with enormous energy savings, given that 90% of the products we encounter in our lives are produced, at least partially, via catalysis.

more…

> Scientists and engineers have spent decades fine-tuning catalytic reactions — yet because it’s currently impossible to directly observe those reactions at the extreme temperatures and pressures often involved in industrial-scale catalysis, they haven’t known exactly what is taking place on the nano and atomic scales.

That’s true about the fine tuning. It hadn’t occurred to be that this would be difficult to observe.

> three catalytic reactions — steam-methane reforming to produce hydrogen, ammonia synthesis to produce fertilizer, and methanol synthesis — use close to 10% of the world’s energy.

Yes, a hydrogen economy is extremely wasteful of energy. Even worse if you don’t get the hydrogen from methane.

mollwollfumble said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

New atomic-scale understanding of catalysis could unlock massive energy savings

In an advance they consider a breakthrough in computational chemistry research, chemical engineers have developed a model of how catalytic reactions work at the atomic scale. This understanding could allow engineers and chemists to develop more efficient catalysts and tune industrial processes — potentially with enormous energy savings, given that 90% of the products we encounter in our lives are produced, at least partially, via catalysis.

more…

> Scientists and engineers have spent decades fine-tuning catalytic reactions — yet because it’s currently impossible to directly observe those reactions at the extreme temperatures and pressures often involved in industrial-scale catalysis, they haven’t known exactly what is taking place on the nano and atomic scales.

That’s true about the fine tuning. It hadn’t occurred to be that this would be difficult to observe.

> three catalytic reactions — steam-methane reforming to produce hydrogen, ammonia synthesis to produce fertilizer, and methanol synthesis — use close to 10% of the world’s energy.

Yes, a hydrogen economy is extremely wasteful of energy. Even worse if you don’t get the hydrogen from methane.

Well you don’t really want to start pinching it from your water.