Calorimetry and thermal methods in catalysis

The course is intended to fill the gap between the basic thermodynamic and
kinetics concepts acquired by the students during their academic formation, and
the use of experimental techniques such as thermal analysis and calorimetry to
answer practical questions. The course will give the students insight into the
different thermal and calorimetric methods which can be employed in studies
aimed at characterizing the physico-chemical properties of solid adsorbents,
supports and catalysts, and the processes related to the adsorption desorption
phenomena of the reactants and/or products of catalytic reactions. The course will give also the basic concepts for the physico-chemical comprehension of the
relevant phenomena. Thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of the catalytic
reactions can be fruitfully investigated by means of thermal analysis and
calorimetric methods, in order to better understand the sequence of the elemental steps in the catalysed reaction. The fundamental theory behind the various thermal analysis and calorimetric techniques and methods will be also illustrated.