Revolutionary Atomic Breakthrough to Transform Petroleum Refining.

Chemical engineers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a model of how catalytic reactions work at the atomic scale, which could allow engineers and chemists to develop more efficient catalysts and tune industrial processes, potentially with enormous energy savings. The team used powerful modeling techniques to simulate catalytic reactions at the atomic scale, looking at reactions involving transition metal catalysts in nanoparticle form. The understanding could have major ramifications for industry, including petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, plastics, food additives, fertilizers, green fuels, and industrial chemicals.