The Historical Development of Catalytic Oxidation Processes

Products produced by catalytic oxidation technology using dioxygen as oxidant are utilized extensively by modern society in many diverse applications. The present chapter outlines the history of this oxidation technology, indicating that in the cases of many products, earlier routes which did not involve direct oxidation, have been replaced by lower-cost oxidation routes. The importance of catalyst selectivity is emphasised and the way in which developments of both major and evolutionary kinds have occurred is illustrated by detailed discussion of the three products, sulfuric acid, nitric acid and maleic anhydride.