Many reactions involving
hydrocarbons and particularly those run at higher temperatures lead to the deposition on the
catalyst of high
molecular weight compounds of carbon and hydrogen which deactivate the
catalyst. This phenomenon is called coking or fouling. Catalysts so deactivated can often
be regenerated.
Source:
PAC, 1976, 46, 71
(Manual of Symbols and Terminology for Physicochemical Quantities and Units - Appendix
II. Definitions, Terminology and Symbols in Colloid and Surface Chemistry. Part II:
Heterogeneous Catalysis)
on page 84