Catalysis for a Sustainable Chemicals Production, Environment, and the Future

Catalysis has for more than a century been a paramount technology for evolving the World to its current stage of development by securing the continuously increasing global needs of bulk and specialty chemicals in the chemical industry, as well as in most other industrial sectors, where such chemicals are applied in an enormous variety of downstream products. Importantly, catalysis has reduced energy consumption and waste from chemical production as well as contributed essentially to environmental and health protection by eliminating pollutants and hazardous compounds. With selected examples, this article elucidates the contribution of catalysis to a sustainable production of chemicals, protection of the environment, and emerging industrial processes.