Catalysis

Gadi Rothenberg is Professor and Chair of Heterogeneous Catalysis and Sustainable Chemistry at the Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences at the University of Amsterdam, and teaches courses on catalysis, thermodynamics and scientific writing. He has published over 180 papers in peer-reviewed journals, was awarded 15 patents, and co-founded the companies Sorbisense A/S, Yellow Diesel BV and Plantics BV. Rothenbergs current research interests include fuel cells, biomass conversion and multifunctional materials. His latest invention is a simple catalytic process for removing cyanide from industrial waste streams.

INTRODUCTION
Green chemistry and sustainable development
What is catalysis and why is it important?
Tools in catalysis research
Exercises

THE BASICS OF CATALYSIS
Catalysis is a kinetic phenomenon
Practical approaches in kinetic studies
An overview of the basic concepts in catalysis
Exercises

HOMOGENEOUS CATALYSIS
Metal complex catalysis in the liquid phase
Homogeneous catalysis without metals
Scaling up and down: Pros and cons
"Click chemistry" and homogeneous catalysis
Exercises

HETEROGENEOUS CATALYSIS
Classic gas/solid systems
Liquid/solid and liquid/liquid catalytic systems
Advanced process solutions using heterogeneous catalysis
Exercises

BIOCATALYSIS
The basics of enzymatic catalysis
Applications of enzyme catalysis
Developing new biocatalysts: Better than nature's best
Non-enzymatic biocatalysts
Industrial examples
Exercises

COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN CATALYSIS RESEARCH
Computers as research tools in catalysis
Modelling catalysts and catalytic cycles
Predictive modelling and rational catalyst design
An overview of data mining methods in catalysis
Exercises