Important targets in environmental catalysis

Abstract

Catalysis has offered and will continue to offer attractive, economical solutions to improving our environment. The focus of this manuscript will be on the opportunities for catalysis research to provide solutions for improving our environment, some of which are described in an earlier review article [1] which will be updated. Some of the big emissions/environmental problems that remain are NOx cleanup [current approaches are not sufficient to meet intended emissions' standards], SO₂ removal, waste water cleanup, increased energy efficiency, H₂ production without co-product CO₂, and waste minimization. Among these topies there seems to be an over-emphasis on NOx removal at the expense of other important topies also needing a solution. In some areas such as mobile engine emissions control, we need to shift the balance our research efforts to better match the fuel choices of the future. Comments are offered with respect to solid acid research opportunities and also the large scale conversion of CO₂. This manuscript reviews some catalytic solutions and highlights opportunities for others. An assessment will be offered about what the problem areas are, where the author believes more attention needs to be focused, as well as identifying new opportunities for research in applying catalysis to the control of undesirable waste products.