Introduction to the world's leading edge catalyst technology(1)

The main function of catalysts is to reduce the activation energy of chemical reactions and speed up the reaction rate, so they are widely used in oil refining, chemical, pharmaceutical and environmental protection industries. Technological advances in catalysts are one of the most effective driving forces for the development of these industries. The introduction of a new catalytic material or a new catalytic process often triggers a revolutionary industrial change, accompanied by huge social and economic benefits.

In 1913, the introduction of iron-based catalysts enabled the synthesis of ammonia, which led to the rapid development of the fertilizer industry worldwide; in the late 1950s, Ziegler-Natta catalysts pioneered the synthetic materials industry; in the early 1950s, molecular sieves, with their special structure and properties, triggered a change in the field of catalysis; in the 1970s, automotive exhaust gas purification catalysts were introduced to the world. 

In the early 1950s, molecular sieves triggered a revolution in the field of catalysis with their special structure and properties; in the 1970s, automotive exhaust gas purification catalysts were industrialized in the United States and attracted widespread attention worldwide; in the 1980s, metalocene catalysts led to new development opportunities for the polyolefin industry. 

At present, human beings are facing many major challenges, such as: the decreasing resources, which require people to rationally develop and comprehensively use resources, and establish and develop resource-saving agriculture, industry, transportation and living systems; economic development has caused environmental pollution to spread and natural ecology to deteriorate, which requires the establishment and development of ecological industries with full recycling of materials, and the realization of clean production to application. 

The solution of these major problems is closely related to catalyst and catalytic technology. Therefore, many countries, especially developed countries, attach great importance to the research and development of new catalysts and catalytic technology, and they all regard catalyst technology as a priority development in the new century.

After a long period of development, the application areas of catalysts have tended to the following situation: traditional petrochemical technology is basically mature, but new catalysts are needed to meet the deteriorating nature of raw materials, product upgrades and increasingly demanding environmental requirements; natural gas chemical and coal chemical industry cannot yet compete with petrochemicals economically. 

The catalytic technology involved has great similarity; fine chemical catalytic technology for the synthesis of high value-added chemicals and pharmaceutical intermediates is relatively fragmented and slow in development, and is currently being strengthened; catalytic technology for the purpose of environmental governance and environmental protection has been widely emphasized.

According to statistics, the world's petroleum processing output value is more than 94 billion U.S. dollars, basic organic chemicals and fine chemicals respectively 52 and 48 billion U.S. dollars, although in terms of production, the latter two and the sum is lower than the former, but its output value has exceeded that of petroleum processing, and the trend is on the rise. New catalysts, high-efficiency catalytic reaction technology and innovation of new catalytic materials and common technology of catalyst preparation are the core of promoting the development of these industries. 

Among them, the development of catalytic process for environmental protection and corresponding new catalysts and refinement of catalyst preparation are the key and the main development direction of catalyst technology in the future.