Catalysis, Surface Science, and Reaction Engineering - College of Engineering

Catalysis, surface science and reaction engineering

Through catalysis, surface science, and reaction engineering, we understand how chemical transformations take place in nature and industrial processes. With this knowledge, we can reduce pollution, and transform simple, inexpensive raw materials into products we rely on every day. From the fuel in your car to the fertilizer growing our food, chemical engineers makes modern life possible.

Student works on research equipment in catalysis lab.

catalysts

What is catalysis?

A catalyst is a special type of material that accelerates a chemical reaction without being consumed. They also enable easier paths so that reactions are faster and more efficient, saving energy and resources, and reducing waste byproducts. Natural catalysts, like enzymes, are essential for life and drive critical biological functions such as metabolism.

Catalysis is what we call the process of adding a catalyst to a reaction. Since catalysts are not consumed in reactions, a single molecule can help create millions more and enable unique reactions that wouldn’t occur otherwise. As chemical engineers, we use catalysis to create many materials and products necessary for daily life—from medicine, clean fuels and energy to ammonia for fertilizers, which helps produce food for billions of people worldwide. Researchers estimate about 90% of industrial chemical processes use catalysts, so research and advancements in catalysis helps us:

Reduce waste and pollution
Lower energy use
Create cheaper and more sustainable processes and materials

Catalysts are classified as either heterogeneous or homogeneous, both of which are important and provide different benefits.

Heterogeneous catalysis (solid catalysts)

The most common type of catalysis in industry, heterogenous catalysis is when the catalyst is in a different phase—usually a solid—than the reacting molecules. It is used in plastics manufacturing and fuel production, and it helps reduce pollution, such as with a catalytic converter in your car.

Homogeneous catalysis (liquid catalysts)

Homogeneous catalysis is when the catalyst and reactants are in the same phase, often as liquids. Incredibly precise and efficient, homogenous catalysis includes biological catalysts, such as enzymes in your body and living organisms, or yeast for making bread and beverages.

Graphic of a highly magnified surface of a water filtration membrane as a mountainous landscape

What is surface science?

In reactions, catalysis occurs on the surface of a material. Surface science is observing a designing these surface reactions on a molecular level. When we understand how and why these reactions occur—and more importantly control them—we can design efficient and selective catalysts.

Surface science asks:

How do molecules stick to a surface?
What happens when they react there?
How does the atomic structure of a surface change the reaction?

What is reaction engineering?

Once there’s a catalyst, we use reaction engineering to carefully control conditions of a reaction, like temperature and pressure, to ensure the reaction takes place efficiently. This involves designing reactors, the industrial equipment where reactions occur.

Today, chemical engineers use computer simulations and artificial intelligence to design and test reactors before building them, saving time, energy and millions of dollars. With research and testing, we can continue to:

Maximize efficiency
Lower energy use
Ensure reactors operate safely

A closer look. Sparking bold research ideas.

Our students, staff and faculty pursue a wide variety of research areas to tackle global challenges and transform the field.

We can harness electricity to control the transformation of chemical compounds and reactions. With the possibility to assemble molecules atom by atom, this work has the potential to create new methods to recycle plastics, convert natural gas, or store energy in chemical bonds.

We aim to engineer new ways to make plastics, fuels and surfactants from waste biomass instead of oil. Biomass solutions use discarded, organic, biogenic material such as, food scraps, crop residues, and forestry byproducts. As an alternative, sustainable source, biomass can create new materials, reshape how we make current products, replace hazardous components with benign materials, and reduce excess waste.

Close up of putting liquid into tray of vials

Discovering new and sustainable techniques to modify atomic structures of catalysts, we strive to change their behavior, reactions and end products. As we face urgent sustainability challenges, this ability enables use to create new types of catalysts to produce fuels and chemicals from renewable sources, mitigate emissions, and store renewable energy.

Close up of material being heated with flame.

We are integrating computer simulations and quantum chemistry to design better catalysts, avoiding trial-and-error experiments. With expertise in reaction engineering and surface science, we can program code and advance the development of high-impact catalysts and catalytic processes.

A computer simulated structure of a catalyst.

As environmental and economic pressures converge, we are dedicated to converting waste plastics into new higher-value materials instead of sending them to the landfill.

Median Wage

With a Bachelor’s degree according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2024

Job Outlook (US Bureau of Labor Statistics)

^{US Dollars}121,860

chemical engineering

^{US Dollars}141,280

petroleum engineering

^{US Dollars}101,140

industrial engineering

A catalyst for change.

Catalysis holds a pivotal role in addressing significant, complex challenges of particular importance to Wisconsin and the world. Ambitious catalysis research will support the discoveries and technologies that shape the decades ahead. They can help us feed the planet sustainably, secure critical resources, make quantum practical, and unlock abundant clean energy.

Engineering Moonshots