Abstract: Catalysis is the process in which the rate of a chemical reaction is increased by means of a chemical substance known as a catalyst.Catalysts can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous, depending on whether a catalyst exists in the same phase as the substrate. Biocatalysts are often seen as a separate group. Heterogeneous catalysts are those which act in a different phases than the reactants.. Diverse mechanisms for reactions on surfaces are known, depending on how the adsorption takes place (Langmuir-Hinshelwood and Eley-Rideal). Heterogeneous catalysts are typically “supported,” which means that the catalyst is dispersed on a second material that enhances the effectiveness or minimizes their cost. Nano is a Greek prefix which signifies a "billionth".An atom is smaller than a nanometer, but a a molecule is more -A dimension of 100 nanometers is important in nanotechnology, because under this limit one observes new properties of matter, primarily due to the laws of quantum physics..So catalytic properties could benefit from the synthesis of nanostructured material not through the preparation of nanoparticles with high surface to volume ratio and narrow size distribution but also through the possibility to produce nanoparticles with well defined morphology and surface structure. Nano-materials are more effective than conventional catalysts for two reasons. First, their extremely small size (typically 10-80 nanometers) yields a tremendous surface area -to volume ratio. Also, when materials are fabricated on the nanoscale, they achieve properties not found within their macroscopic counterparts. Both of these reasons account for the versatility and effectiveness of nano-catalysts.
A lot of researches have been done on the application of nanoparticles in heterogeneous catalysis process , some of which and the state of art one will be reviewed in this lecture. Iso-paraffin production on nano-porous catalysts composed of zeolite, nano-porous Al2O3 and Ni-Mo/ăAl2O3 showed that the catalyst composed of MFI zeolite selectivity produces propane and that composed of BEA zeolite can selectively produce isobutene whereas that composed of USY zeolite can selectively produce iso-paraffins in gasoline fractions. Pt/MgO catalysts were prepared by using wet impregnation method. Partial Oxidation of Methane (POM) to synthesis gas revealed that Pt particles have the size of less than 10 nm, the size of the support MgO is about 50–200 nm. Nanostellar has filed five broad patent applications for low cost nano catalysts that can be used for gasoline engine three-way catalyst, lean-burn diesel engine catalytic materials, fuel cell proton exchange membrane assemblies, and for the chemical and petrochemical industries. The low temperature nano-catalysts studies for water gas shift reaction showed that Au and Cu nanoparticles supported on the oxides, such as CeO2 and TiO2. display higher activity than the bulk materials and commercial catalysts. Remarkable selectivity is achieved in the cleavage of benzyl ethers using ball-shaped palladium nanocatalysts.

Brief Biography of the Speaker:
Karim.H.Hassan, Assistant professor in chemistry department, college of science, university of Diyala, Iraq. B.Sc in chemistry and M.Sc in physical hemistry, college of science, university of Baghdad, department of chemistry in 1983 with thesis name: Determination of half-wave of CoQ0 in aqueous and organic media with different concentrations, Ph.D in physical chemistry, university of Reading UK, 1990 with thesis name: Absorption and laser induced fluorescence spectra of some aromatic molecules.1977-1980 assistant chemist in scientific research council of Iraq.1985 having training coarse in Hungary about petroleum testing and catalysts.1983-1986 assistant researcher in scientific research council of Iraq, petroleum research centre, refining department. 1986-1991 participate in all the southern universities spectroscopy group meetings in the UK by papers. 1986-1991 participate in all the high resolution spectroscopy group meetings and conferences in the UK by papers.1991 participate in the spectroscopy meeting in the West Germany by posters.1991-2003 ministry of science and technology and ministry of industry as head of department of catalysts and material.1993-2003 lecturer and consultant in laser institute for postgraduate studies in university of Baghdad in fine powder production using laser and laser induced reactions, 1993-till now, being a member of the publishing committee of Iraqi journal of .2000-2003 lecturer in chemistry departments of the college of science, college of education in university of Anbar and in university of Al-Mustansiria of Iraq and also lecturing in college of engineering of Iraq and laser institute for postgraduate studies. The courses being teached are quantum chemistry, surface chemistry and catalysis, industrial chemistry , petrochemicals, reactors, laser in chemistry and spectroscopy, analytical chemistry, nuclear and radiation chemistry. 2004-2006 lecturer in chemistry department , college of science of university of Diyala in Iraq. 2006-2008, head of chemistry department , college of science of university of Diyala in Iraq.35 published paper in national and international journals, participation in 16 scientific chemical national and international conferences, supervising and examining about 30 M.Sc. and Ph.D students in chemistry and chemical engineering.