KJM5810 – Heterogeneous catalysis

Course content

The course deals with chemical and physical phenomena that are important within heterogeneous catalysis. Among these are adsorption on and desorption from solids, the chemical kinetics of surface reactions, and chemical equilibrium. The pore structure and surface properties of solid catalysts, their catalytic activity and selectivity, and instrumentation and methods for characterization of catalytic systems will be described. Important industrial processes for the exploitation of natural gas will be described and used as examples. The course is well suited for master students with interests directly related to catalysis and ph.d. candidates working within related areas.

Learning outcome

After having completed the course, the candidate will be able to:

  • Have knowledge about the fundamental principles and experimental techniques used to study the five steps in a heterogeneously catalyzed reaction.
  • Give a quantitative description of adsorption/desorption and the kinetics of catalytic reactions on a surface.
  • Describe how quantum chemistry, statistical thermodynamics, and transition state theory are combined to calculate the rate of surface reactions.
  • Account for how the catalytic activity and selectivity is influenced by the physical and electronic surface properties of the catalyst.
  • Account for the physical and/or chemical phenomena behind important techniques for the characterization of catalysts and catalytic reactions and the information offered by these techniques.

Admission

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

Overlapping courses

The course has 9 ECTS credit overlap with KJ 430.

Teaching

The first lecture is mandatory. If you are unable to join the first lesson, you have to inform the Expedition Office in advance (phone 22 85 54 46, e-mail ekspedisjonen@kjemi.uio.no). If you fail to do this, you loose the access to the teaching and the examination in the course for the given semester.

Within August 10th / January 10th, international students must inform the Examination Officer at the Department of Chemistry (room VU12, phone 22855447) if English teaching is requested.

Examination

Oral examination.

This course offers new examination in the beginning of the subsequent semester for candidates who fail or withdraw during an ordinary examination.

Information about examination rules.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

Explanations and appeals

Other

The teaching will be cancelled if less than 3 students have registered for the course by the closing date for course registration in January/August.

Facts about this course

Credits
10
Level
Master
Teaching
Spring 2018
Spring 2016

Teaching may be cancelled if less than 5 students apply.

Examination
Spring 2018
Spring 2016
Teaching language
Norwegian (English on request)

English if requested by international students, otherwise Norwegian.