Catalysis for energy and environmentally benign technologies

Abstract

Catalysis research for energy and environment has a tremendous opportunity to improve our environment. The environmental catalysis has made a step forward and it is a more challenging pathway for innovation in science relying on many disciplines. New catalytic process can produce clean up as well as cleaner technologies. The challenges for catalysis research in the 21st century are identified, based on the current knowledge of catalysis researchers, recent fundamental and applied developments and current long-term objectives of the global energy and environmental protection processes. Any process efficiency now assigns economic values to eliminate waste and avoiding the use of hazardous chemicals and there are many exciting new developments in the application of organic synthesis work. Also catalysis is likely to become a key element in the conversion of liquid and or gaseous fuels into hydrogen for fuel cells application. Several catalyst systems are likely to emerge for different fuel cell types and on different fuel processors. The present catalyst technology need further progress in catalyst development and integration, cost reduction and successful field test program for fuel-to-fuel cell processor to eventually gain general customer acceptance. This presentation briefly discusses the R & D work currently under exploration at IICT that illustrates the catalytic technologies for solving environmental issues to provide sustainable development. The lessons learned in the past and related achievements will be illustrated and discussed to emphasize the role of environmental catalysis as a driver for improving quality of life, health and environment.