The course will analyze the main catalytic processes related to energy and environment.

The course will have lessons, numerical exercises, activities in the lab, and a personal work to be prepared.

Lectures and exercise sessions will allow students to know about catalytic processes in general, and to know and discuss about catalytic processes related to energy and environment.

The personal work will allow students to read, present, and discuss scientific paper on a topic related to catalysis for energy and environment

Introduction

The catalysts, catalytic steps. Preparation of catalytic materials (supports, active elements and monolithic substrates; extrusion of catalysts; coating of structured substrates). Catalyst characterization (morphological, structural, chemico-phisical, activity). Mechanisms and kinetics of catalytic reactions. Structured reactors for energy and environmental applications. Mass and heat transfer phenomena in heterogeneous catalysis. catalyst deactivation

Stationary applications. 

Pollutants formation in power plants. Regulations. Primary methods for pollutant emissions. Secondary techniques for pollutant emissions (CO, NOx, dioxin, ...).

Catalytic processes for fuels

Production of energy and energy carriers by catalytic processes. Catalytic treatments for fuel production. Production of synfuels.

Mobile sources

Pollutant formation in vehicles. Regulations. Three-way converters for gasoline vehicles. catalytic technologies for NOx abatement under lean conditions. Catalytic devices for soot abatement. 

Oral exams will assess the knowledge of the contents of the frontal lessons, will analyse the reports for the exercises and for the lab activities, and will evaluate the personal works by a discussion.