Fouling agent

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-004614",
  "term": "Fouling agent",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "A deactivating deposit or coating on a catalyst that blocks pores or covers active sites without forming strong chemical bonds to them; the attraction is weak, of the van der Waals or hydrogen-bonding kind, so the damage is physical blockage of access for reactants. Coke formed from hydrocarbons is the classic example, and metal sulfide deposits of vanadium and nickel foul hydrotreating catalysts.",
  "synonyms": [
    "mechanical inhibitor"
  ],
  "subject": "Physical and Biophysical Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "block",
    "coking"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 1991, 63, 1227. 'Manual on catalyst characterization (Recommendations 1991)' on page 1244 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199163091227)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/fouling-agent/"
}