Page 7 - Principles of Catalyst Development
P. 7
FOREWORD
Successful industrial heterogeneous catalysts fulfill several key require-
ments: in addition to high catalytic activity for the desired reaction, with
high selectivity where appropriate, they also have an acceptable commercial
life and are rugged enough for transportation and charging into plant
reactors. Additional requirements include the need to come online smoothly
in a short time and reproducible manufacturing procedures that involve
convenient processes at acceptable cost. The development of heterogeneous
catalysts that meet these (often mutually exclusive) demands is far from
straightforward, and in addition much of the actual manufacturing tech-
nology is kept secret for commercial reasons-thus there is no modern text
that deals with the whole of this important subject. Principles of Catalyst
Development, which deals comprehensively with the design, development,
and manufacture of practical heterogeneous catalysts, is therefore especially
valuable in meeting the long-standing needs of both industrialists and
academics.
As one who has worked extensively on a variety of catalyst development
problems in both industry and academia, James T. Richardson is well placed
to write an authoritative book covering both the theory and the practice of
catalyst development. Much of the material contained in this book had its
origin in a series of widely acclaimed lectures, attended mainly by industrial
researchers, given over many years in the United States and Europe. All
those in industry who work with catalysts, both beginners and those of
considerable experience, should find this volume an essential guide. With
its emphasis throughout on the scientific basis of catalyst development, it
should be an excellent teaching text, especially for postgraduate courses in
applied chemistry, chemical technology, and chemical engineering.
Martyn Twigg
Michael Spencer
Billingham and Cardiff