Why use Encyclopedias?
Encyclopedias provide an overview and introduction to a topic. Encyclopedias are meant to get you started on a topic and can help you become familar with issues and terminology in a subject area. They will provide you with background information and additional references. They are not research documents.
Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology by 
Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary by 
Catalysis from A to Z : a concise encyclopedia by 
Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook by 
Handbook of Industrial Chemistry and Biotechnology by An easy way to find handbooks is to do a keyword search. Type in your subject and the word handbooks. For ex: Petroleum AND Handbooks
Handbook of Green Catalysis by 
