Page 96 - Principles of Catalyst Development
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DESIGN OF CATALYSTS
How to Invent Them
5.1. METHODOLOGY
Designing catalysts to satisfy process needs is like writing prescriptions to
cure illnesses. We hope that the procedure is accurate and successful and
try to base it on scientific method. Yet in practice, it is the skill of the
practitioner, whose background, knowledge, experience, and awareness of
"what has worked in the past" usually prevails. Nevertheless, in catalysis
as well as medicine, we continually strive to improve the precision of the
design process beyond mere copying of recipes.
All successful catalyst inventors have combined unique experience with
existing knowledge, some very methodically, others with flashes of intuition
and genius. It was only in the 1960s, however, that Dowden first attempted
to systematize catalyst design so that scientifically trained yet inexperienced
chemists and engineers could attempt this seemingly magical exercise. (149)
Dowden's work has been extended by Trimm in a book devoted to the
subject. (85) Trimm gives many examples, which are recommended as supple-
mentary material to the discussion in this chapter.
The objective is to guide the knowledgeable novice through systematic
procedures that lead to creative discoveries; a path seemingly easily
traversed by the expert. Such an expert may appear intuitive, yet he himself
passes through similar stages. With practice, the beginner will begin to inject
his own style, to innovate, to optimize. Each case produces variations on
the central theme, but yet the methodology is the same.
The procedure is attractive as a teaching vehicle. It has proven success-
ful in many practical applications. As a training device, students progress
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