News Centre

22 Apr 2013

UK Catalysis Hub opens

Scientists from Cardiff and other partner universities have launched a new centre for research into catalytic research – the study of materials which speed up chemical reactions. New developments in this area have the potential to help production of clean fuels, develop new drugs and clean up pollution – and to maintain the UK’s strong position in this commercially important field.

Catalysts are best known for their use in vehicle exhaust systems, where they help break down the toxic gases produced by car engines before they are released into the atmosphere. However they are used far more widely, and have many commercial applications. They are particularly important in scaling up small-scale chemical processes from the lab to sizes and speeds which are economically viable for large-scale use in industry.

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