Catalysts in industrial processes

Question 1

Why are catalysts used in industrial processes?

Answer 1

They speed up processes which would be too slow without them

Question 2

How do catalysts increase sustainability?

Answer 2

Allowing lower operating temperatures to be used
Reduces energy demand needed, from the combustion of fossil fuels
Reducing CO2 emissions

Question 3

Explain how catalysts are used in petroleum processing

Answer 3

Petrol typically contain carbon chains of around C8
Lower demand for longer chain hydrocarbons
In cracking longer chained hydrocarbons
are broken into shorter chained alkanes
Alkenes by heating with zeolites

Question 4

What is hydrogenation?

Answer 4

A process where vegetable oil is converted into margarine by addition of hydrogen in the presence of a nickel catalyst

Question 5

Explain how catalysts are used in margarine manufacture

Answer 5

Margarines can be made with different
“spread abilities” depending on the degree of hydrogenation

Question 6

Explain how catalysts are used in ammonia manufacture

Answer 6

Haber process is used to make ammonia
Gaseous nitrogen and hydrogen are
reacted together to form ammonia with a catalyst of solid iron