Yale Scientists Develop New, Cheaper Catalysts For Industrial Chemicals

Researchers at Yale University believe newly developed chemical catalysts could soon ease costs for a wide range of industries.

In the latest edition of the journal ACS Catalysis, Yale chemists detailed the production of catalysts based on palladium.

Their system established an improved chemical infrastructure, meaning less palladium -- a rare and expensive metal -- would be required to produce the compounds needed for pharmaceuticals, plastics, agrochemicals and other industries.

"It should make the preparation of many industrially relevant compounds more economical and sustainable and may lead to new methods to prepare important compounds," said Nilay Hazari, an associate chemistry professor and study co-author.

The researchers reported that the new catalysts are already available commercially from several chemical companies.