MONOLITHIC CERAMICS AND HETEROGENEOUS CATALYSTS - HONEYCOMBS AND FOAMS

Recent advances have been made in research on ceramic monolithic catal yst supports, particularly on honeycombs and ceramic foams. In the cas e of honeycombs, cordierite is the most commonly applied composition, but alternative materials, such as SIC, are beginning to be used for d emanding conditions. Typical catalytic applications of honeycombs incl ude use as catalyst supports for the removal of gaseous or particulate emissions from combustion engines (gasoline and diesel), and for redu cing nitrogen oxide emissions from power plants. Ceramic foams are use d commercially for the filtration of molten metals, and are attracting increasing attention as catalyst supports due to high thermal stabili ty, high porosity and increased tortuosity with respect to honeycombs.