catalystcentric

Catalystcentric, also written catalyst-centric, is a neologism describing an approach that places catalysts at the center of chemical design, optimization, and analysis. The term is used in scientific literature and industry to denote a shift from substrate- or process-centric thinking toward prioritizing catalyst properties as the main performance driver.

Practitioners emphasize catalyst activity, selectivity, stability, and lifetime. Typical focus areas include active-site characterization, support effects, particle size and dispersion, turnover frequency and turnover number, and microkinetic modeling to link structure with kinetics. High-throughput experiments and computational screening are commonly employed to identify promising catalysts.

Applications span petrochemicals, fine chemicals, biomass upgrading, electrocatalysis, and environmental catalysis. In a catalyst-centric program, improvements in energy efficiency, waste reduction, and overall process intensity are pursued primarily through catalyst development, with reactor and separation considerations integrated later in the design cycle.

Critics warn that overemphasizing catalysts can neglect reactor design, heat and mass transfer, and economics. Proponents argue that catalyst-centric thinking is most effective when paired with holistic process design and lifecycle assessment.

See also catalysis, catalyst design, microkinetic modeling.