Catalysts are hailed as the "chips" of the chemical industry; over 90% of industrial production processes rely on them. Their core applications span key sectors such as chemical production, energy refining, environmental protection, and new energy, as detailed below:
Petroleum and Chemical Production
This is the primary traditional application area for catalysts, underpinning the efficient manufacture of the vast majority of basic chemical products:
Petroleum Refining: Catalysts such as molecular sieves and hydrotreating agents are used in processes like catalytic cracking, reforming, and alkylation. They convert crude oil into clean fuels (e.g., gasoline and diesel), significantly enhancing fuel quality and production efficiency.
Basic Inorganic Chemicals: Iron-based catalysts are used in ammonia synthesis, vanadium catalysts in sulfuric acid production, and nickel-based steam reforming catalysts in syngas preparation; these serve as the backbone for producing fertilizers and basic chemical raw materials.
Polymer Synthesis: Polyolefin catalysts-such as Ziegler-Natta and metallocene types-are used for the directed polymerization of high-end materials like polyethylene and polypropylene, playing a crucial role in the domestic production of advanced new materials in my country.
Fine and Pharmaceutical Chemicals: Activated carbon-supported catalysts facilitate reactions such as hydrogenation and oxidation, supporting the green synthesis of pharmaceutical intermediates and specialty chemicals while reducing energy consumption and by-product formation.
Environmental Protection and Pollution Control
Acting as "environmental guardians," catalysts are widely used to reduce and purify various pollutants:
Flue Gas Denitrification: SCR denitrification catalysts (vanadium-based or molecular sieve types) are used in coal-fired boilers, steel sintering machines, and industrial kilns. They convert nitrogen oxides into harmless nitrogen gas, serving as a core technology for meeting "China VI" emission standards and treating industrial flue gas.
VOC and Waste Gas Purification: Precious and non-precious metal combustion catalysts are used to degrade volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in industries such as chemical manufacturing, printing, and spray coating; they can also specifically eliminate highly toxic substances like dioxins and chlorinated organic pollutants. CO Advanced Treatment: Platinum-palladium-based noble metal catalysts oxidize carbon monoxide-found in waste incineration, gas-fired boilers, and confined mining spaces-into harmless carbon dioxide, thereby preventing the risk of poisoning.
Water Treatment and Air Purification: Activated carbon catalysts are used for the advanced treatment of wastewater from printing and dyeing as well as petrochemical operations, while photocatalysts can decompose recalcitrant organic pollutants in water and air under light exposure.
