Our original expertise derived from developing carbon supported catalysts and adsorbents for the chemical and petrochemical industries. This experience can be traced back to the early 1970s when Professor Steve Tennison, our Research Director, began work on cyclisation catalysts. Steve was joined at BP by other members of our team who successfully developed the first non-iron catalyst for ammonia synthesis (promoted Ru on carbon) which now operates the worlds largest plants. .

During the ammonia catalyst development the shortcomings of traditional activated carbon for advanced applications were highlighted;

• Very variable quality
• Poor mechanical stability
• Averaged materials (1000m2/g average can mean many things!)
• High ash content
• Limited physical forms

To overcome all of the problems synthetic carbons were the future, but this was not realised until MAST Carbon came about. We have particular expertise in the preparation of porous carbons from synthetic polymers such as phenol / formaldehyde and the various modifications which are possible by substituting other monomers.