Contact Us

Center for Catalysis
0755 Gilman Hall
Ames, IA 50011
515-294-3135
vsylin@iastate.edu

About the Center

The Center for Catalysis, or CCAT, is a research and education organization focusing on "green chemistry," which refers to environmentally benign chemical processes. These often occur at room temperatures and ordinary pressures, and use water, preferably, as a solvent. They require less expenditure of energy, occur more rapidly, and product significantly fewer unwanted byproducts than competing industrial processes.

CCAT is working to create catalysts that will enable firms to replace chemical processes that generate large volumes of hazardous pollutants. It is developing new catalysts and biocatalysts that mimic nature and is transforming laboratory-scale catalysts into industrial-scale catalysts. With this technology, the CCAT is creating new markets for agricultural commodities as raw materials for industry, thus benefiting the farm economy.

CCAT is a member of the Institute for Physical Research and Technology, and works closely with the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Ames Laboratory.