Catalyst

Catalyst

The catalyst is a term that has been widely known by researchers in the chemical process. The catalyst is generally defined as substances that speed up or slow down the reaction. These substances will be released again after the reaction is complete. The participation of the catalyst in a chemical reaction that the catalyst is recovered at the end of the reaction, but often changing its physical form. It could be argued that the catalyst reacts participate but at the end of the reaction will be formed again. The catalyst does not affect the position of equilibrium, but only speed up reactions by lowering activation energy.

Based on the phase in the reaction, the catalyst is classified into two namely:

1) Homogeneous Catalysts

If the catalyst phase by phase as the reactants.

2) Heterogeneous Catalysts

If the catalyst phase different from phase reactants.

Generally, catalysts are widely used in industry are heterogeneous catalysts. Heterogeneous catalyst is generally in the form of metal oxide catalysts. Heterogeneous catalysts typically are formed as solids are superimposed on the surface of the solid / rest upon (impregnation) of the reactants. Katalisisnya mechanism takes place in five stages that occur in sequence, namely the diffusion of reactants to the catalyst surface, adsorption of reactants on the surface of the catalyst, the product desorption from the catalyst surface and diffusion of products leaving the catalyst surface (Wahyuni ​​and Priatmoko, 2000).