Catalysts are simply chemical substances that can speed up a chemical reaction between agents without dissolving in the process. Many manufacturing processes require the use of industrial catalysts for production purposes. As such, catalyst manufacturers sell petrochemical catalyst materials and chemical catalysts to various industries.

Chemical catalyst manufacturers also sell petroleum catalysts and metal catalysts to industrial plants that require catalyst reactions in the production process. Catalyst suppliers also provide metallurgy companies with metal catalysts to speed up catalyst reactions to activated metals. A petrochemical catalyst supplier can also advise production plants on a variety of catalyst related topics that follow industry guidelines. Suppliers provide such information through catalyst education and training. By doing so, suppliers can:

1. Educate others on the latest catalyst technologies.

2. Advise on the dangers of unplanned catalyst chemical reactions.

3. Provide free FCC catalyst information.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get training on the latest catalyst technologies

Catalyst technologies are rapidly changing by the month and thus continuous training in such innovations is necessary to keep ahead of the industry. Although there are formal education programs in catalysis chemistry at the bachelors, masters and doctoral levels, many lab technicians and similar staff prefer to attend week-long seminars and year-long certification programs.

I recommend: CAI Technologies is a premier learning center that has catalyst technology training programs that are convenient and flexible. NIST has general information about catalyst technologies and sponsors seminars about the topic.

Get training on catalyst chemical reactions

Catalyst chemical reactions are needed for some production processes to flow. However, some chemical reactions that are caused by catalysts can be very dangerous if proper training is not dispensed. For those who must work with catalyst chemical reactions on a daily basis, constant training is required by law and by the chemical industry to ensure complete adherence to safety standards.

I recommend: Axen has training services that addresses issues surrounding catalyst chemical reactions. The training is approved by many safety guidelines. ASME is another excellent source to find training opportunities in catalyst chemical reaction training as it offers a comprehensive list of courses in a variety of educational and convenient formats.

Get catalyst training information

Catalysts are part of chemical processes. As such, general catalyst training is often required prior to entering a lab or a processing plant.

I recommend: American Chemistry is an excellent source that has many places to find catalyst training information. The site is massive and also provides an overview of catalysts and current research on the topic. The Catalyst provides many resources on obtaining catalyst training certification.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When obtaining catalyst education and training from chemical catalyst manufacturers, be sure check that the manufacturer or supplier meets all ISO and FDA production guidelines. In many instances, suppliers and manufacturers do not meet both guidelines and as such cannot give advice that is approved by standards boards. If you receive training or education, the certification may not be accept by other industries or other countries.

Catalysts help in increasing the rate of a chemical reaction without disturbing its chemical equilibrium. Catalysts also help in reducing environmental damage by eliminating or reducing the amount of waste generated in catalysis (a chemical reaction involving the catalyst). Thus, use of a catalyst in chemical reactions is beneficial for the industrial user as well as for the environment.

Catalysts are useful in various industries, such as chemical, pharmaceutical, agriculture, aerospace and petroleum refineries. Precious metals like platinum, nickel, gold, iridium, palladium and silver are a few commonly used metal catalysts.

Some important parameters you must consider before buying a catalyst are:

1. Application requirement for the catalyst
2. The type of catalysis: homogeneous or heterogeneous
3. Required quantity, size and shape of the catalysts

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy catalysts from reputable catalysts manufacturers

Once you understand your requirements, check out different industrial catalysts available in the market. Before buying a catalyst, evaluate catalysts that are suitable for particular applications. For example, a petrochemical catalyst is the most suitable catalyst for refineries and petrochemical processing industries.

I recommend: BASF offers a wide range of catalysts for different industries such as aerospace, automotive, pharmaceuticals, electronics and refineries. Johnson Matthey supplies pollutant emission controlling catalysts for automotive and other industrial engines. Raney Catalysts is a catalyst manufacturer that also provides an expert opinion for the optimal use of industrial and chemical catalysts.

Buy customized catalysts

If standard catalysts available on the market do not meet your application requirements, then you can customize the catalyst with the help of various custom catalysts manufacturers.

I recommend: Nanostellar, a reputable nanotechnology company, develops nano-engineered catalyst materials for the automotive and stationary power industries. You can buy a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst, a hydro processing catalyst (HPC), polyolefin or a chemical catalyst at Albemarle, a leading manufacturer of complex chemicals.

Buy catalysts from a reputable catalyst distributor or retailer

Compare different catalysts based on their features and applications at distributors and retailers' websites.

I recommend: Catalyst Trading Company is a distributor of catalysts manufactured by reputable catalyst manufacturers such as BASF, Albermarle, Alcan, Dycat and Synetix. Univar USA is a leading distributor of chemicals, including catalysts. Ellsworth Adhesives is another specialty chemical and equipment distributor that offers catalysts. You can also refer to the list of catalyst suppliers on ThomasNet and GlobalSpec.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Get acquainted with state regulations about the disposal of chemicals, including catalysts.
• •  In catalytic converters, use catalysts that are resistant to catalyst poisoning and have better thermal stability.