Lothar Puppe

Shape-Selective Catalysis in Zeolites

Among the primary tasks of catalysis is the control of the selectivity in chemical reactions. In heterogeneously catalyzed reactions in zeolites and zeolite-related microporous solids, this can, inter alia, be achieved by exploiting the phenomenon of shape-selective catalysis. In a very simplified manner, shape-selective catalysis can be described as the combination of catalysis with the molecular sieve effect. Shape selectivity effects can occur, if the sizes and shapes of reactants, of products, of transition states or of reaction intermediates are similar to the dimensions of the pores and cavities of the zeolite.