Can a true catalyze be recovered and used again? What problems might be encountered?

Answer 1

Yes, a true catalyst can be recovered and used again. Problems are decomposition over much use, as when catalytic metal ions wash off a zeolite or other mineral support, and when precious metals like platinum separate from organic ligands after long use. Other catalysts are not true catalysts but regenerated catalysts. Example is sulfuric acid, in which a hydrogen ion H+ catalyzes a reaction and an H+ comes out at the end, but the one that is regenerated is not indentical to the one that went in.