Chemists from the Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry RAS have developed a new catalyst for industrial chemical reactions, which take place with the discharge of a large amount of heat.


Here catalytic systems are required to divert the heat, in other words, heat-conducting metal carriers. The researchers studied the oxidation of coal gas (carbon monoxide) on original two-layer catalysts that contain copper oxide and which are applied on the metal foil base used to divert the heat. The researchers proposed the application of aluminium oxide onto the foil first of all (using electrophoresis) and then the copper oxide. This procedure significantly intensified the activity of the catalyst. What proved even better was a similar catalyst where cement was present instead of aluminium oxide. The properties and catalytic ability of the catalysts from copper oxide on a cement base were compared with platinum catalysts, which are well known and often used in such processes. It transpired that the activity of the copper catalyst was no worse than that of the platinum equivalent only, of course, it is far cheaper.