Despite the advances in understanding the phenomena that occur on a catalyst surface, much of the successful catalyst development and use continues to be half science and half art. The art resides in the practical knowledge of experts in the development and use of commercial catalysts-it comes with experience. Now the background needed to nurture the experience and inspire the art is collected along with the science into a single volume.

Whether called upon to select or improve a catalyst, design a process, diagnose operating problems, or improve existing processes, the Handbook of Commercial Catalysts provides the information needed to form a basis for the task. It offers a starting point by providing a broad overview of 150 major commercial processes and the heterogeneous catalyst used for each. The author has arranged them according to specific reaction or reaction type, and supplies reference citations for deeper research. He offers valuable insghts-based on chemistry, thermodynamics, and surface science-that provide a framework for rational reasoning about catalyst performance.

With data collected from the existing literature, from the in-house specialists of commercial vendors, and from his own extensive experience, the author discusses for each reaction: