CATALYSIS AND PHOTOCATALYSIS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Academic Year 2023/2024 - Teacher: Salvatore SCIRE'

Expected Learning Outcomes

The course aims to provide the fundamental knowledge of catalysis and photocatalysis, with special attention to the application of (photo)catalysts in the fields of energy production and environmental protection. 

Course Structure

Classroom lessons with numerical exercises

Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus.

Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it

Required Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of thermodynamics and chemical kinetics

Detailed Course Content

  • Hystory and importance of catalysis
  • Basic principles of catalysis. Heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis. Classification of catalysts.
  • Heterogeneous catalysis and adsorption: physisorption and chemisorption. Adsorption isotherms. Surface area determination and poresize distribution. Metallic dispersion. 
  • Kinetics of catalysed reactions and main reaction mechanisms: Langmuir-Hinshelwood, Eley-Rideal, Mars-van Krevelen.
  • Preparation methods and characterization techniques of heterogeneous catalysts. 
  • Measurements of catalytic activity. Deactivation mechanisms of catalysts
  • Principles and objectives of Green Chemistry. Solid acids and bases in catalysis. Catalytic processes with low environmental impact.
  • Catalysis for environmental protection. Catalysis for gasoline and diesel cars. DeNOx e deSOX catalysts. Catalytic combustion of VOC.
  • Production and storage of hydrogen. Fuel cells technologies. Hydrogen economy.
  • Catalytic processes for fuel production and improvement.
  • Principles and applications of photocatalysis. Main heterogeneous photocatalysts.
  • Applications of photocatalysis: removal of pollutants from water and air, selective oxidations, watersplitting, CO2 reduction 

 

Textbook Information

1. J. Hagen – Industrial Catalysis: a practical approach. Wiley-VCH

2. C.H Bartholomew, R.J. Farrauto, Fundamentals of industrial catalytic processes, 2nd ed. Wiley-Interscience

3. G. Ertl, H. Knozinger, J. Weitkamp - Preparation of Solid Catalysts – Wiley-VCH

4. Visible-light-active photocatalysis: nanostructured catalyst design, mechanisms and applications, S.Ghosh ed., Wiley-VCH

5. Photocatalysis and Water Purification, P. Pichat Ed., Wiley-VCH

6. H. Kisch, Semiconductor Photocatalysis, Wiley

Course Planning

 SubjectsText References
1Catalisi: importanza e storiaAppunti delle lezioni
2Principi di base di catalisi. Classificazione dei catalizzatori: catalisi eterogenea ed omogeneaAppunti delle lezioni - Testo 2: capitolo 1 - Testo 3: capitolo 1
3Catalisi eterogenea ed adsorbimento: fisisorbimento e chemisorbimento, isoterme di adsorbimento. Area superficiale e distribuzione diametro dei pori, dispersione metallica Appunti delle lezioni - Testo 3: capitolo 4
4Cinetica delle reazioni catalizzate Appunti delle lezioni - Testo 2: capitolo 5
5Metodi di preparazione e tecniche di caratterizzazione di catalizzatori eterogenei Appunti delle lezioni - Testo 4: capitoli 3 e 4
6Catalisi e green chemistry. Acidi e basi solide in catalisiAppunti delle lezioni - Testo 3: capitolo 6
7Catalisi per il controllo dell’inquinamento da sorgenti mobili e stazionarie. Sistemi catalitici per motori a benzina e diesel. Catalizzatori per deNOx e deSOX Appunti delle lezioni
8Catalizzatori per produzione e storage di idrogeno. Fuel cells. Hydrogen economyAppunti delle lezioni
9Catalizzatori per la produzione e l’upgrading di combustibili liquidi Appunti delle lezioni
10Principi ed applicazioni della fotocatalisiAppunti delle lezioni

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

Oral exams

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

  • Hystory and importance of catalysis
  • Basic principles of catalysis. Heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis. Classification of catalysts.
  • Heterogeneous catalysis and adsorption: physisorption and chemisorption. Adsorption isotherms. Surface area determination and poresize distribution. Metallic dispersion. 
  • Kinetics of catalysed reactions and main reaction mechanisms: Langmuir-Hinshelwood, Eley-Rideal, Mars-van Krevelen.
  • Preparation methods and characterization techniques of heterogeneous catalysts. 
  • Measurements of catalytic activity. Deactivation mechanisms of catalysts
  • Principles and objectives of Green Chemistry. Solid acids and bases in catalysis. Catalytic processes with low environmental impact.
  • Catalysis for environmental protection. Catalysis for gasoline and diesel cars. DeNOx e deSOX catalysts. Catalytic combustion of VOC.
  • Production and storage of hydrogen. Fuel cells technologies. Hydrogen economy.
  • Catalytic processes for fuel production and improvement.
  • Principles and applications of photocatalysis. Main heterogeneous photocatalysts.
  • Applications of photocatalysis: removal of pollutants from water and air, selective oxidations, watersplitting, COreduction