Catalytic Gold Conference, 2001

The discoveries in a number of different laboratories that gold can be prepared in catalytically-active forms, and that these catalysts have special and attractive properties with commercial potential were highlighted during this three day conference. This meeting brought together for the first time the world’s leading researchers in this field, and industrialists were able to assess the usefulness of the results obtained to date. 85 delegates from 15 different countries attended this conference, which was sponsored by both mining and industrial companies, eg WGC, Anglogold, Mintek, Engelhard-CLAL.

There were representatives from six commercial applications companies and others were represented indirectly. There was the feeling of excitement often associated with the discovery of new science, particularly when there is also promise of new applications which will benefit society. The opening address was given by the South African Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Dr S Ngubane.

Attendees - Click to enlarge

Keynote talks were given by:

Gold - A Relatively New Catalyst, Geoffrey C Bond, Rickmansworth, UK

Gold Chemistry and Gold Catalysts, Hubert Schmidbaur, Technical University of Munich, Germany

Gold Catalysts in Chemical Processing, Graham J Hutchings, Cardiff University, UK

Supported Gold Catalysts for CO Oxidation and Other Environmentally Important Reactions, Masatake Haruta, Director, Research Institute for Green Technology, Tsukuba, Japan

The Catalyst Design Challenges Posed by New Fuel-Cell Technologies, Stan Golunski, Johnson Matthey Technology Centre, Reading, UK

The proceedings closed with the award by Professor Bond of a Krugerand to the best paper presentation, adjudged to be R J H Grisel from Leiden, The Netherlands. It was pleasing that the whole conference was such a success and this bodes well for the future of catalysis by gold.

Read the full conference report at http://www.goldbulletin.org/downloads/SAFRICA_2_34.PDF

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