Minor faults in catalyst impose an obstacle to the chemical industry
Monday, January 11, 2010 - 12:21
in Physics & Chemistry
One of the most important catalysts in the modern chemical industry is a troublemaker. The building blocks of zeolite ZSM-5 crystals, which are a sort of Swiss cheese with molecular size holes, are not joined together perfectly. The materials that have to pass through the crystals therefore often get stuck and don't react well. A Dutch researcher has discovered the deviations in the miniscule but indispensable particles.