This course is targeted for chemical engineering students. For non-engineering major, it is encouraged to take it given by Chemistry Department.

For catalysis applied in reaction engineering, it is often found when a chemical reaction which is favored thermodynamically proceeds too slowly to be of use, the kinetics can be made favorably by using a catalyst. Modern chemical processes depend for their viability on a judicious choice of catalyst; but what are the basic knowledge of catalysts and catalysis? Why are some catalysts more effective than the others? Can a catalyst be chosen to direct the course of reaction along a specific route, and to yield an intermediate rather than the thermodynamically more stable product? How should it be used? These are some of the questions vital to a vigorous chemical industry, and their answers depend on a broad chemical, engineering and economic principles. This catalysis course will majorly follow the line provided by Professor G. C. Bond, will survey the field of heterogeneous catalysis, and by highlighting a number of chemical engineering processes shows how one should think about the problems involved, and how they may be answered.