Catalysis in Chemistry (F1110)

15 credits, Level 6

Spring teaching

This module introduces you to catalysis, its industrial and environmental importance, and the main different classes – heterogeneous, homogeneous and enzymatic catalysis.

You’ll begin by looking at catalysis and green technologies, illustrating the very wide range of interesting and important applications of catalysis.

Heterogeneous catalysis is very important to the chemical industry. You’ll explore this through:

a consideration of surface chemistry
modern techniques for studying surfaces
the study of important organic and inorganic solid catalysts, including the rapidly growing area of shape-selective catalysis.

Homogeneous catalysis is also an extremely important subject in synthesis and industrial chemistry. You’ll cover this in a series of lectures on important metal-catalysed processes.

You’ll also explore the important and growing areas of catalysis, such as enzymatic and asymmetric catalysis, for a range of important chemical reactions.

You’ll attend workshops and look at case studies based on important catalytic processes throughout the module.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2026/27. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

Courses

This module is offered on the following courses: