Influence of technology on catalytic science

Abstract

During the twentieth century, technological advances in catalysis have been enormous. These advances have generally stimulated research leading to significant progress in the science of catalysis. Areas of catalysis providing good examples include ammonia synthesis in the chemical industry and catalytic cracking and reforming in the petroleum industry. As the science of catalysis has developed in response to the stimulus of technology, it has had an increasingly greater effect in the reverse direction, i.e., in shaping the technology. This feedback phenomenon is highly desirable for maximizing progress in both science and technology.