Executive Summary

1

1.

Introduction

10

1.1

What Are Catalysts

11

1.1.1

The Battle of Britain:  Catalysts for Victory

11

1.1.2

An Immobilized Enzyme as an Industrial Catalyst

14

1.2

The Function of Research

15

1.3

Summary and Perspective

17

2.

New Opportunities in Catalytic Technology

18

2.1

Societal Impact of Catalytic Technology

18

2.1.1

Catalytic Cracking:  Major Impacts on the U.S. Balance of Payments

19

2.2

Production of Chemicals

21

2.2.1

Existing Products

21

2.2.2

New Products

25

2.2.2.1

A Strong Point for the Future

26

2.3

Production of Fuels

32

2.3

Existing Fuels

32

2.4

New Fuels – Methanol Dissociation to Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen

33

2.4

Environmental Protection

34

2.4.1

Catalysts for Energy Independence

35

2.4.2

Alkylation Catalysts

36

2.4.3

Replacements for Chlorofluorocarbons

36

2.4.4

Emission Abatement

37

2.4.4.1

Auto Exhaust Catalysts

38

2.4.5

Biodegradation of Organic Waste

40

2.4.5.1

Dining on Pollution

41

3.

Research Opportunities In Catalytic Science

43

3.1

Introduction

43

3.2

Synthesis of Catalytic Materials

44

3.2.1

The Polyethylene Story:  Cut-Resistant Surgical Gloves and Laundry Bags

47

3.3

Catalyst Characterization

49

3.3.1

Studies of Ammonia Synthesis over Iron Single Crystals

50

3.4

Mechanism and Dynamics of Catalytic Reactions

53

3.4.1

Controlling Bugs with Bugs

54

3.5

Theory of Catalysts

58

3.5.1

Solid-State High-Temperature Fuel Cells

62

3.6

Conclusions

64

4.

National Resources for Catalytic Research

65

4.1

Industry

65

4.2

Universities

66

4.3

National Laboratories

68

5.

Findings and Recommendations

70

5.1

Industry

71

5.2

Academic Researchers

72

5.3

National Laboratories

73

5.4

Federal Government

74

6.

Appendix

77

7.

Index

83