What does catalyst mean?

A catalyst refers to a substance that can promote a chemical reaction.

The catalyst can reduce the activation energy of the reaction and can react at lower temperature, pressure and energy, thus improving the reaction rate and selectivity. This substance does not participate in the reaction and does not change the equilibrium state of the reaction system. Common catalysts include noble metal catalysts, transition metal catalysts and oxide catalysts.

Among them, precious metal catalysts such as platinum, palladium and rhodium have high catalytic activity and selectivity in chemical reactions, and are widely used in industrial chemical reactions and environmental protection. Transition metal catalysts such as tungsten, vanadium and chromium and oxide catalysts such as titanium dioxide and alumina are also widely used in industrial chemical reactions and environmental protection.

The catalytic function of catalyst is to reduce the activation energy of chemical reaction, so that the reaction can be carried out at lower temperature, pressure and energy, thus improving the reaction rate and selectivity. In industrial chemical reactions, catalysts can improve the efficiency and yield of chemical reactions, reduce the production of by-products and wastes, and reduce energy consumption and environmental pollution.

Application of catalyst:

1, industrial production: In industrial production, many chemical reactions need catalysts to improve the reaction rate and selectivity. For example, in the petrochemical industry, precious metal catalysts such as platinum and palladium are used in various organic chemical reactions, including alkylation, hydrogenation and oxidation, to improve production efficiency and product quality.

2. Environmental protection: In the field of environmental protection, catalysts also play an important role. For example, harmful gases in automobile exhaust can be converted into harmless substances by using catalysts. In addition, in sewage treatment and waste gas treatment, catalysts can also be used to reduce the toxicity of harmful substances or convert them into harmless substances.

3. Medicine: In the field of medicine, catalysts also have important applications. For example, many drugs need the participation of enzymes in the human body, and enzymes can be regarded as catalysts in the human body. In addition, some drugs themselves or their metabolites can also be used as catalysts to promote chemical reactions in the human body.

4. Biochemistry: In the field of biochemistry, catalysts also play a key role. For example, many chemical reactions in organisms require the participation of enzymes, which can be regarded as catalysts in organisms. These enzymes can promote effective chemical reactions and control the direction and speed of the reactions.