Catalytic Technologies for Sustainable Development in Argentina

Abstract

Catalysis is a powerful tool for the development of clean catalytic technologies in chemical manufacturing and the use of renewable resources, particularly crop-derived raw materials, and thereby meets the economic and social interest of Latin America countries. Expected benefits of catalytic routes are higher process efficiency, decreased waste production, elimination of hazardous reagents and by-products. Thus, increasing research work has been lately focused on the development of novel catalyst formulations and catalytic processes in sectors including polymer, agricultural, petrochemical, pharmaceutical and fine chemicals industries. However, the industrial development of catalysts is an expensive and labor-intensive activity because research in catalysis is still dominated largely by experimental studies. The development and the transfer of highly advanced and sophisticated catalytic technologies and processes and their industrial application and adoption is therefore crucial for the industrialization programs of Latin America countries.