When to Use zinc catalysts?

07 Jul.,2025

 

Zinc Catalysts - Catalysts / Alfa Chemistry

At present, metal catalysts are widely used, but their use is limited by the fact that most of the metals used as catalysis are of low reserves, costly, and toxic. Metal zinc is rich in reserves (the twenty-fourth (0.%) in the earth's crust) and of high concentration in the ore. At the same time, metal zinc has low toxicity and is relatively environmentally friendly, which makes zinc an attractive catalyst.

Goto Yourun Synthetic Material to know more.

Applications:

With all of the advantages mentioned above, metal zinc has been used in a lot of aspects as a catalyst. The specific zinc-catalyzed reaction types are zinc-catalyzed reductions of unsaturated compounds as photocatalysts, zinc-catalyzed oxidation reactions, zinc-catalyzed transformation of carbon dioxide and zinc-catalyzed copolymerization reactions. The most common types of zinc catalysts and their usual applications are as follows:

  • Zinc oxide catalyst: Zinc oxide has safe and non-toxic properties, and its photocatalytic properties can be used to inhibit the oxidation of bacteria to achieve anti-corrosion and sterilization purposes.
  • Zinc tungstate catalyst: Zinc tungstate (ZnWO4) is an important member of the tungstate family (AWO4, A=Zn, Mg, Ca, Ba, Mn, etc.). It was widely studied as an important new semiconductor photocatalyst, photoluminescent material, scintillation material, etc. The crystal structure of ZnWO4 is shown in Figure 1.
  • Figure 1. The crystal structure of ZnWO4

  • Zinc silicate catalyst: Zinc silicate can be used as a catalyst to catalyze the oxidation reaction of ozone with the organic macromolecules in sewage, so as to achieve the purpose of purifying water. After catalyzed ozonation by zinc silicate, the proportion of macromolecular organic material in the water is significantly reduced, and the content of small-molecule organic matter is increased.
  • Diethylzinc/multiproton catalyst: Diethylzinc/multiproton catalyst refers to a catalytic system formed by a compound containing two or three living hydrogens and diethyl zinc which catalyzes the reaction of carbon dioxide and an epoxy compound to obtain a copolymer. The catalyst model is shown in Figure 2.
  • Figure 2. Catalyst model for binary catalytic system of diethylzinc and glycerol

  • Zinc carboxylate derivative copolymerization catalyst: Such catalysts are prepared from a source of zinc (e.g., ZnO, Zn(OH)2, Zn(OAc)2) and with a dicarboxylic acid such as glutaric acid, pimelic acid, acid liver, methyl ester, and the like in toluene. Zinc carboxylate derivative copolymerization catalysts mainly are used to catalyze the polymerization of carbon dioxide and epoxy compounds.

References

Zinc catalysts - Metals Chemicals Maastricht

Welcome to MCM, we are your sustainable recycling partner in zinc and lead. Our mission is to provide the best possible knowledge and solutions to our business partners, to guarantee optimal recycling for the residues of various types of processes and applications. At MCM, we believe that waste is a starting point for a new life cycle, instead of being an endpoint. One of our expertise is the recycling of zinc catalyst materials. Our recycling journey begins by sourcing spent zinc catalyst waste material from various industries. This waste, often considered disposable, is of great value to us and our industry.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Delayed action catalysts.

In the field of chemistry and industry, catalysts play an essential role in advancing progress and fostering innovation. They enhance the speed, efficiency, and precision of chemical reactions. Especially catalysts containing zinc are known for their versatility and effectiveness. “Spent zinc catalysts” are catalysts that have been used in chemical reactions and have lost their catalytic activity over time. These catalysts often contain zinc compounds as active components. When a catalyst loses its catalytic activity after repeated use, it is referred to as “spent” or “consumed.”. If this is the case, this means that the catalyst no longer shows the desired chemical reaction of speeding up the chemical reaction. At this point, the spent zinc catalysts need to be replaced by new catalysts, in order to speed up and provide an efficient chemical reaction.

After use, spent zinc catalysts often contain residues of reactants and residues of byproducts from the chemical reaction they were used in. At this point, it is important to manage the spent catalyst properly to prevent environmental issues and, if possible, to recover valuable materials. This is where MCM comes in. MCM recycles spent zinc catalysts such that our partners can recover the zinc content for further production. Spent zinc catalysts often contain zinc compounds as their active components. If the catalysts cannot be reused, one option is to recover the zinc content. This can be done through methods such as leaching, precipitation, or solvent extraction to isolate and purify the zinc compounds. Depending on the feasibility of regeneration and the quality of recovered zinc compounds, recycling may be possible. Recovered zinc can be used in various industries, such as in metallurgy and chemical manufacturing.

Spent zinc catalysts require proper handling, disposal, and treatment to prevent environmental contamination. Therefore, at MCM we comply with environmental laws and regulations to minimize any adverse impact, which is shown by our ISO and ISO certification.

At MCM, our vision extends beyond business success. We are committed to environmental sustainability. We specialize in purchasing spent zinc catalysts from various companies, with the aim of facilitating the recycling process. Once acquired, we efficiently supply these materials to our trusted partners who harness the recycled zinc in their production processes. Our mission is to promote a greener and more sustainable environment by ensuring that valuable resources are reused and repurposed. By working together, we can contribute to a cleaner, more responsible industrial landscape, making a positive impact on our planet’s health and future. We understand the significance of preserving our planet and reducing the environmental impact of industrial activities. By choosing us as your spent zinc catalyst recycling partner, you join us in this pursuit.