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polymerization of ethylene, propene, higher a-olefins, and cyclic olefins are being discussed in the review. The nature of the catalyst, cocatalyst, and reaction parameters influence the productivity, stereoregularity, and polymer properties. Presently, around 20 companies the world over are making intense efforts towards the technological development of polyolefins based on metallocene catalysts. The com- mercial status indicates a gradual develop- ment of the market for polyolefins made using metallocene catalyst systems.

V.K. GUPTA

Plat inum Metals Review

Platinum Metals Review is published by Johnson Matthey PIc. (Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8EE) and edited by Susan V. Ashton. The previous editor, lan E. Cot- tingham, retired in June 1994, having been associated with the publication since 1975 and editor since 1987.

The October 1994 issue of the journal contains an article by T.J. Lawton and R.J. Gower of the Johnson Matthey Catalytic Systems Division, Royston, entitled "Cata- lysts Aid Cleaner Environment: Thermal Incineration Process Enhanced by Plati- num-Based Catalyst". This paper first con- siders the various options available for the control of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and then discusses the retrofitting of catalytic systems to existing thermal in- cineration systems, giving examples of how such retrofitting has increased the efficiencies and economics of thermal in- cineration units.

Other items in the same issue include a paper by Michael Graetzel of the Swiss Federal Institute, Lausanne, Switzerland,

on novel photovoltaic devices, a review of a paper by Y. Izumi and Y. Iwasawa [Chem- tech, 24 (1994) 20] entitled "Ruthenium Clusters Breathing Carbon Monoxide" which demonstrates, using EXAFS, that such clusters change their size on taking up and releasing carbon monoxide, a paper by L.D. Burke (University College Cork, Ireland) discussing the importance of surface compounds in the use of noble metals in electrocatalysis, a review of the papers on the use of platinum group me- tals in hydrogen technologies which were presented at the Tenth World Hydrogen Energy Conference, held in Cocoa Beach, Florida, in June 1994, and a review of the

ACS Symposium Series Volume (552) on Environmental Catalysis, edited by John N. Armor.

The January 1995 issue of the journal contains an article entitled: "Diesel Emission technology: System Containing Platinum Catalyst and Filter Unit Removes Particulate from Diesel Exhaust".This de- scribes the use of a concept originally de- veloped by B.J. Cooper and his col- leagues (SAE Tech. Paper Series, 890404 (1989), US Patent 4,902,487, European Appl., 341,832A) which involves the use of NO2 oxidation of carbonaceous particulate matter. The NO2 is produced by the cata- lytic oxidation of NOx over a Pt-alumina catalyst. The reason why the work was not originally utilised was the due to the finding that any SO2 in the exhaust gases (arising from sulphur-containing molecules in the diesel fuel) was oxidised to SO3 and that the latter was adsorbed on the particulate matter, giving rise to an increase in the weight of particulate emissions compared with the situation without such a system. However, with decreases in sulphur con- tents in diesel and improvements in engine

appl ied catalysis A: General Volume 125 No. 1 - - 27 April 1995

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design, it has now proved poseibleto oper- ate the system successfully without signi- ficant pressure drop over extended periods. The article describes some of the tests carried out and discusses the pros- pects of using such systems in practice. Another article, by Yuantao Ning, Zhenfen Yang and Huaizhi Zhao of the Institute of Precious metals, Kunming, Yunnan, China, discusses the structural recon- structions which occur in palladium-nickel alloy gauzes used to capture platinum lost from the catalytic gauzes used for am- monia oxidation in nitric acid production. In addition, a review is given of the book edited by George J. Antos, Abdullah M. Aitani and Jose M. Parera entitled "Cata- lytic Naphtha Reforming: Science and Technology" (Marcel Dekker, 1995) and an update is given on the use of fuel cells. Both issues also contain the customary abstracts of papers and patents on the uses of platinum-group metals in a variety of applications including catalysis.

Another publication by Jonson Matthey and obtainable from the same address which has recently reached my desk is "Platinum 1994: Interim Review". This is one of a series of such publications which details the markets in platinum metals: the supply and demand and the effects of pol- itical and commercial changes, etc., on the demand. I gathered many interesting snip- pets of information while reading it, includ- ing an estimate of a recovery of 35,000 ounces of platinum in 1994 in Western Europe from automobile exhaust cata- lysts, a business which is still in its infancy. The demand for palladium is increasing steadily, predominantly because ofthe use of palladium-containing catalysts by some European car manufacturers; the use in this region is expected to more than double

in anticipation of the introduction of stricter legislation in 1996. The trends in market prices of all the metals are discussed. One might be surprised to discover the very low prices of ruthenium and iridium compared with those of the other Pt group metals, particularly of rhodium, despite the scarc- ity of these two metals.

JULIAN ROSS

The Catalytic Process from Labora- tory to the Industrial Plant

A book of this title has been published by the Interdivisional Group of Catalysis of the Industrial Chemistry Division of the Ita- lian Chemical Society. Edited by Do- menico Sanfilippo, this book is the pro- ceedings of the Third Seminar of Catalysis held in Rimini in June 1994 with an orga- nising committee of Pio Forzatti, Do- menico Sanfilippo, Fabrizio Cavani, Vitto- rio Fattore, Lucio Forni, Guido Petrini and Elio Santacesaria in collaboration with the University of Bologna and Snamprogetti S.p.A. and with the support of a number of industrial organisations. This might give the impression that the book contains a series of papers on research results. This is far from the case. It is instead a series of articles describing steps in the scale-up of catalysts and catalytic processes after a catalyst has been identified. An introduc- tory chapter by the Editor is followed by chapters on the classification of industrial catalysts and catalysts for the petrochemi- cal industry (F. Cavani and F. Trifiro), cata- lyst preparation methods (C. Perego and P.L. Villa), catalyst characterization (G. Le- ofanti, G. Tozzola, M. Padovan, G. Petrini, S. Bordiga and A. Zecchina), laboratory reactors (L. Forni), laboratory plants for

applied catalysis A: General Volume 125 No. 1 - - 2 7 April 1995