2017-2018 / CHIM0697-1

Heterogeneous catalysis

Duration

20h Th, 20h Pr, 10h Proj.

Number of credits

 Master in biomedical engineering (120 ECTS)4 crédits 
 Master in chemical and materials engineering (120 ECTS)4 crédits 
 Master in physical engineering (120 ECTS)4 crédits 

Lecturer

Nathalie Job

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The course aims at developing the concepts required to use heterogeneous catalysts in various chemical processes. It contains the following concepts:  




  • Catalyst definition, types of catalysts.
  • History of catalysis - historical processes.
  • Industrial applications: relationship between process, reactor and catalyst;
  • Physical and chemical steps in heterogeneous catalysis (diffusion, adsorption, reaction, desorption);
  • Definition of catalytic sites - catalysis by metals, alloys and surface groups.
  • Conversion ratio, activity, selectivity, turnover number
  • Identification and counting of catalytic sites. catalyst characterization.
  • Nature and synthesis of supports and active phase. catalyst shaping.
  • Coupling between reaction and diffusion in porous catalysts (mass and heat transfers, efficiency factor, diffusional limitation
  • Deactivation
 

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

Master the concepts of catalyst preparation and characterization.
Be able to use a supported catalyst in a reactor and to determine the operating conditions (chemical vs. diffusional regime).

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Chemistry (CHIM9272-2 and CHIM9273-1) Chemical kinetics (CHIM0012) Chemical engineering - reactor study (CHIM0023-3)    

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Theory lessons with numerous real examples about the preparation, characterization and use of catalysts.    Exercises about characterization data treatment and the study of reaction-mass transport coupling.
 
One personal presentation (in English) on a predefined subject.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

  • Lectures (theory), autumn session (face-to-face). 17 sessions of 1.5 h.  
  • Practice, parallel to theoretical lectures (face-to-face). 9 sessions of 1.5 h.  
  • Language : English

Recommended or required readings

All teaching and practice material is available on the eCampus portal.

Assessment methods and criteria

  • Personal presentation on a defined subejct (in English) during the theory lectures. The students may be questioned on any subject presented (either at the oral or written examination).  The personal presentation is mandatory: a students who fails in delivering the presentation will not be admitted to the final examination.
 
 
  • Oral examination on theory and practice (January).
 


  • Weighing ratios: personal presentation: 20%; oral examination: 80%.
   

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

No remark

Contacts

Nathalie Job Department of Chemical Engineering Institut de Chimie - B6a   Tel. : 32-(0)4-366 35 37 e-mail : Nathalie.Job@ulg.ac.be