- Email: [email protected]
International centre for catalyst characterization and testing
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International Centre for Catalyst Characterkation and Testing Catalysis is of key importance for the design of new technologii for the chemical and petroleum industries. About 90% of all chemical products are produced nowadays using catalytic technotogies. Modem studies of catalysts are carried out with the use of new sophisticated and very powerful instrumentation. They can be done only by specially trained personnel and as a result they are rather expensive. For rapid and reliable characterization of new catalysts, internationally accepted methods for the control and certification of their properties are necessary. The Coordination Centre for Development of New Industrial Catalysts and Improvement of Catalysts Used in Industry of the member countries of the Council of Economic Mutual Aid has been working since 1971 at the Institute of Catatysis (Novosibirsk, USSR). This centre has now been transformed into the International Centre for Catalysts Characterization and Testing. The centre characterizes and tests catalysts on the basis of internationally accepted standards, as well as develops new standards for these purposes. The centre organizes and carries out projects upon the request of various organizations from the USSR and foreign countries (on a confidential basis), as well as joint bilateral and multilateral projects. The main directions of activity of the centre are as follows: - Complex characterization and testing of various catalysts according to internationally accepted standards, including characterization of their chemical and phase compositions (in particular, the composition of surface and subsurface layers), point and extended defects, structure of surface species, the electronic state
applied catalysis -
ofsurface atoms,surface areas and
porous structure, interaction between the active component and support, testing of catatyst activity, etc. - comptex studies of particular conlmerciai catalysts and processes, with the aim of giving recommendations for their improvement. -The carrying out of joint studies with Soviet and foreign partners for the development of new catalysts, processes and technologies, as well as searches for new catatytk systems. - The development of standardiied equipment and methods for the characteriiation and testing of catalysts, and the certifkation of their physico-chemkal and operational properties. The development of quantumchemical methods for the study of catalysts, together with a package of computational programs, and the use of these methods and programs for the interpretation of spectroscopic data. - The development of methods to model mathematically catalytic reactions and processes, together with a package of computational programs. - The organization of training and studies for foreign specialists at the Institute, within the scope of the centre’s activii. In its work, the Centre uses the powerful potential of the Institute of Catalysis of the Siberian Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences, which is the biggest specialized institute in the world working in this field. The Institute carries out fundamental and applied studies in practically all fields of catatysisz structural and mechanistic characterizatkxl at the molecular level of various catatysts and catatytic reactions; the chemistry of catalyst preparation; kinetic studies of catalytic processes; mathemati-
Volume 77 No. 2 - 15 October 1991
N21
cad modelling and engineering of catalytic reactors and processes; and the development and commercialization of new Industrial catalysts and processes. Sophisticated Instrumentation for in-aitu analytical contrc~ of the state of a catalyst and of reaction mixture composItion, including inatrumentation for adsorption, kinetic, structural and spectral studies are all available at the Institute. NI this has permitted within a short time Interval the attainment of a unique combination of data about the structure of active centers, detailed reaction kinetics and mechanism, and knowledge of how to use these data for the purposeful design of new catalysts and catalytic technologies. At present, the centre carries out joint projects wIth universities, research institutee and Industrial companies from the USA, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and India. The address of the centre is: InstItute of Catalysis, International Centre for Catalysts Characterization and Testing, Prospekt Akedemia Lavrentlava, 5, Novosibirsk 630090; U.S.S.R., Telephone: (+7)(383-2)35 57 50; Telex: 133 122 Sovat SU; Fax: (+7)(383-2) 35 57 56. The Director of the InstItute of Catalysis is Academician Kirill I. Zamarasv and the Executive Director of the Centre is Professor Bair S. Balzhinimaev.
Carbonylation A recently published book by three members of the staff of ICI or associated companies will be of use to readers with interests in the reactions of carbon monoxide, in homogeneous catalysis or in synthetic organic chemistry: "Carbonylation. Direct synthesis of carbonyl compounds" by H.M. Coiquhoun, D.J. Thompson and M.V. Twigg [ISBN 0-306-43747-3, Plenum,
New York, 1991, $65.00 ($78.00 outside USA & Canada)]. The authors review developments in transition metal based carbonylation chemistry and emphasize the im~ce of catalytic cerbonylaUon as a general tool in synthetic organic chemistry. The topios covered range from the reaction mechanism encountered in transition metakmedlated carbonylation chemistry to practical aspects, Including safety precautions in the preparation of catalysts and design of equipment.
Footnote It is probably anatomically Incorrect to add a footnote to a Tailpiece, but then we are not zoologists. The Amedcen Colonist recently (News Brief, Appl. Catal., 76 (1991) N12) deplored the primary pub,cation of (apparent) major technical breakthroughs in the popular press and on television. A recent example was the claim of Nissan to have developed a palladium auto exhaust catalyst, which now appears to be years away from production. A point not emphasised by American Colonist is that these spudous breakthroughs come from the auto manufacturers, e.g. Nissan and Ford and, most recent, Isuzu, who have a distinct interest in lower platinum pdces, rather than Johnson Matthey or Engelhard, the suppliers of platinum metals. On 2 August 1991 the quoted pdce of platinum, $354.25/oz, was less than that of gold bullion, $360.25/oz, and was thus at its lowest value for over five years. Last year's average price was $472/oz. Of course, other factors also influenced platinum pdces but nevertheless the auto manufacturers are no doubt thankful for any saving in the present depression. M.S. SPENCER
applied catalysis--Volume 77 No. 2 - - 1 5 October 1991
International Centre for Catalyst Characterkation and Testing Catalysis is of key importance for the design of new technologii for the chemical and petroleum industries. About 90% of all chemical products are produced nowadays using catalytic technotogies. Modem studies of catalysts are carried out with the use of new sophisticated and very powerful instrumentation. They can be done only by specially trained personnel and as a result they are rather expensive. For rapid and reliable characterization of new catalysts, internationally accepted methods for the control and certification of their properties are necessary. The Coordination Centre for Development of New Industrial Catalysts and Improvement of Catalysts Used in Industry of the member countries of the Council of Economic Mutual Aid has been working since 1971 at the Institute of Catatysis (Novosibirsk, USSR). This centre has now been transformed into the International Centre for Catalysts Characterization and Testing. The centre characterizes and tests catalysts on the basis of internationally accepted standards, as well as develops new standards for these purposes. The centre organizes and carries out projects upon the request of various organizations from the USSR and foreign countries (on a confidential basis), as well as joint bilateral and multilateral projects. The main directions of activity of the centre are as follows: - Complex characterization and testing of various catalysts according to internationally accepted standards, including characterization of their chemical and phase compositions (in particular, the composition of surface and subsurface layers), point and extended defects, structure of surface species, the electronic state
applied catalysis -
ofsurface atoms,surface areas and
porous structure, interaction between the active component and support, testing of catatyst activity, etc. - comptex studies of particular conlmerciai catalysts and processes, with the aim of giving recommendations for their improvement. -The carrying out of joint studies with Soviet and foreign partners for the development of new catalysts, processes and technologies, as well as searches for new catatytk systems. - The development of standardiied equipment and methods for the characteriiation and testing of catalysts, and the certifkation of their physico-chemkal and operational properties. The development of quantumchemical methods for the study of catalysts, together with a package of computational programs, and the use of these methods and programs for the interpretation of spectroscopic data. - The development of methods to model mathematically catalytic reactions and processes, together with a package of computational programs. - The organization of training and studies for foreign specialists at the Institute, within the scope of the centre’s activii. In its work, the Centre uses the powerful potential of the Institute of Catalysis of the Siberian Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences, which is the biggest specialized institute in the world working in this field. The Institute carries out fundamental and applied studies in practically all fields of catatysisz structural and mechanistic characterizatkxl at the molecular level of various catatysts and catatytic reactions; the chemistry of catalyst preparation; kinetic studies of catalytic processes; mathemati-
Volume 77 No. 2 - 15 October 1991
N21
cad modelling and engineering of catalytic reactors and processes; and the development and commercialization of new Industrial catalysts and processes. Sophisticated Instrumentation for in-aitu analytical contrc~ of the state of a catalyst and of reaction mixture composItion, including inatrumentation for adsorption, kinetic, structural and spectral studies are all available at the Institute. NI this has permitted within a short time Interval the attainment of a unique combination of data about the structure of active centers, detailed reaction kinetics and mechanism, and knowledge of how to use these data for the purposeful design of new catalysts and catalytic technologies. At present, the centre carries out joint projects wIth universities, research institutee and Industrial companies from the USA, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and India. The address of the centre is: InstItute of Catalysis, International Centre for Catalysts Characterization and Testing, Prospekt Akedemia Lavrentlava, 5, Novosibirsk 630090; U.S.S.R., Telephone: (+7)(383-2)35 57 50; Telex: 133 122 Sovat SU; Fax: (+7)(383-2) 35 57 56. The Director of the InstItute of Catalysis is Academician Kirill I. Zamarasv and the Executive Director of the Centre is Professor Bair S. Balzhinimaev.
Carbonylation A recently published book by three members of the staff of ICI or associated companies will be of use to readers with interests in the reactions of carbon monoxide, in homogeneous catalysis or in synthetic organic chemistry: "Carbonylation. Direct synthesis of carbonyl compounds" by H.M. Coiquhoun, D.J. Thompson and M.V. Twigg [ISBN 0-306-43747-3, Plenum,
New York, 1991, $65.00 ($78.00 outside USA & Canada)]. The authors review developments in transition metal based carbonylation chemistry and emphasize the im~ce of catalytic cerbonylaUon as a general tool in synthetic organic chemistry. The topios covered range from the reaction mechanism encountered in transition metakmedlated carbonylation chemistry to practical aspects, Including safety precautions in the preparation of catalysts and design of equipment.
Footnote It is probably anatomically Incorrect to add a footnote to a Tailpiece, but then we are not zoologists. The Amedcen Colonist recently (News Brief, Appl. Catal., 76 (1991) N12) deplored the primary pub,cation of (apparent) major technical breakthroughs in the popular press and on television. A recent example was the claim of Nissan to have developed a palladium auto exhaust catalyst, which now appears to be years away from production. A point not emphasised by American Colonist is that these spudous breakthroughs come from the auto manufacturers, e.g. Nissan and Ford and, most recent, Isuzu, who have a distinct interest in lower platinum pdces, rather than Johnson Matthey or Engelhard, the suppliers of platinum metals. On 2 August 1991 the quoted pdce of platinum, $354.25/oz, was less than that of gold bullion, $360.25/oz, and was thus at its lowest value for over five years. Last year's average price was $472/oz. Of course, other factors also influenced platinum pdces but nevertheless the auto manufacturers are no doubt thankful for any saving in the present depression. M.S. SPENCER
applied catalysis--Volume 77 No. 2 - - 1 5 October 1991