In this blog post, we’ll discuss the role of engineers in transforming society for the better, much like a catalyst that alters a chemical reaction.
Having achieved industrialization in just a few decades following the war, Korean society has experienced remarkable economic growth. In the process, the phrase “hurry up” has become deeply ingrained in Korean life and culture. This tendency is easily evident in everyday life. It takes only a few seconds for coffee to come out of a vending machine, yet we often can’t even wait those few seconds and end up burning our hands when grabbing the paper cup. Instant noodles are ready in three minutes, but many of us can’t even wait that short time and end up eating undercooked noodles. Through these experiences, we suddenly think, “This waiting time is such a hassle. Can’t we make this process faster?”
Among the many fields of chemical and biological engineering, there is one that perfectly aligns with modern people’s desire for speed: catalytic engineering. As the name suggests, catalytic engineering is a branch of chemical engineering that studies catalysts—substances that control the rate of chemical reactions without themselves being altered. For readers who may find the term “catalyst” somewhat unfamiliar, let’s define it briefly: a catalyst is a substance that regulates the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any change.
Catalysts are broadly divided into two types based on their role. Substances that accelerate reaction rates, as we commonly know, are called catalysts, while those that slow down reaction rates are called inhibitors. The time required for chemical reactions varies greatly depending on the type. For example, when alkali metals like sodium or potassium react with water, the reaction proceeds so quickly that you can observe the reaction rate with the naked eye; however, some reactions take several hours, or even tens of hours.
Imagine, for instance, having to conduct an experiment in a graduate lab that takes 24 hours. If it’s a safe experiment where you can simply set up the apparatus and leave, that’s fine. However, if the experiment requires adding reactants at intervals of several hours or poses an explosion risk, someone—usually a graduate student—must stay up all night in the lab to monitor it. If a catalyst could be used to shorten the reaction time in such a situation, the researcher would save both time and energy.
While the use of catalysts is relatively familiar, some may question the necessity of a co-catalyst, which slows down reactions. However, co-catalysts also play a very important role. In cases where a reaction is too reactive to control, a co-catalyst can be used to moderate the reaction. A fast chemical reaction isn’t always a good thing. This is because violent reactions can cause reactants to splatter or pose an explosion risk, making the work environment extremely dangerous.
At this point, catalysts may seem like specialized substances used only in laboratories or factories. However, catalysts are actually deeply embedded in our daily lives, often without us even realizing it. A prime example is the automobile. The exhaust gases emitted by a car while driving contain substances harmful to humans, such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. These harmful substances are not only a cause of air pollution but also pose a serious threat to human health. You’ve probably experienced the unpleasant smell of exhaust fumes coming from the car in front of you at least once.
To solve this problem, catalytic converters are installed in car exhaust systems. These devices contain precious metal catalysts such as platinum, rhodium, and palladium, which convert harmful gases into harmless substances like carbon dioxide and nitrogen. In other words, while this reaction would be difficult under normal conditions, it occurs rapidly thanks to the catalyst, thereby helping to protect both our health and the environment.
If catalytic converters did not exist, we would have had to release pollutants directly into the atmosphere. Alternatively, we might have had to install separate exhaust gas storage devices.
Since this device must be made of highly durable materials, it would be heavy and expensive, and would have negatively impacted the car’s fuel efficiency, performance, and price. Furthermore, an overheated exhaust system during prolonged operation could even pose an explosion risk. Viewed this way, we can truly appreciate how a single catalyst affects not only the environment but the entire automotive industry.
Now, let’s look at an example of a co-catalyst, which may seem less relevant to everyday life. In fact, co-catalysts are also easy to find around us. For instance, imagine getting a scrape while playing soccer on an artificial turf field after being tackled by an opponent. In such situations, hydrogen peroxide antiseptic is typically used for first aid. Hydrogen peroxide is a highly reactive substance, yet it remains stable for a long time inside the disinfectant bottle. The reason for this is that a small amount of phosphoric acid has been added to the hydrogen peroxide. Phosphoric acid prevents the hydrogen peroxide from decomposing on its own into water and oxygen, and this is precisely its function as a co-catalyst.
If there were no inhibitor like phosphoric acid, the disinfectant could decompose on its own during storage and turn into plain water. It would be absurd if the disinfectant you intended to apply to a wound turned out to be nothing more than water with no effect. Of course, due to this risk, hydrogen peroxide without a stabilizer would likely not even be sold on the market.
As shown here, catalysts play a useful role in various aspects of our lives. However, because they are hidden in places that are not easily visible, such as in a car’s exhaust system or inside a bottle of disinfectant, we often forget they exist. But why not take a moment, through this article, to reflect on the existence of “catalysts”—which accelerate and coordinate both our daily lives and industry from behind the scenes—and on the existence of “engineers,” another kind of catalyst who research and design these catalysts? Thanks to them, we are experiencing a faster, safer, and better world.
