Oxygen Generation Catalysis

Efficient catalytic splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen is a key to the potential production of hydrogen for transportation and electricity generation applications. Typically, two catalysts are used; one for generating hydrogen and the other for oxygen evolution. This later reaction is typically the rate limiting step due to its inherently slow kinetics. Researchers from MIT have recently reported advancement in the design of catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction that exhibit significant increases in intrinsic activity.

Esterifications Catalyzed by Gold

The considerable interest in gold-based supported catalysts continues to yield new advances. In a recent issue of Catalysis Science & Technology, Gemma L. Brett, Graham J. Hutchings, and co-workers report their work using supported gold and gold-palladium nanoparticles to promote the oxidative esterification of 1,2-propanediol. The products, methyl lactate and methyl pyruvate, are important in the manufacture of personal care and pharmaceutical products.

Catalytic Refining of Syncrude

The application of catalysis to the refining of synthetic crude produced through the Fischer-Tropsch process is the subject of a recent book by Arno de Klerk and Edward Furimsky. Although much is published on the catalysts and process conditions used in the production of syncrude using the F-T process, considerably less information is readily available on the refining of the F-T product for practical use.