https://phys.org/news/2018-07-copper-stearate-heavy-oil-oxidation.html > Lab head Mikhail Varfolomeev says, "In-situ combustion comprises three stages: low-temperature burning, cracking and pyrolysis, and high-temperature burning. As the tests have shown, copper oxide only works during the latter two stages, and is thus a heterogeneous catalyst which requires high temperatures to be activated. Conversely, copper stearate proved to be an excellent low-temperature homogeneous catalyst." > Furthermore, copper stearate then dissipates into nanoparticles of copper oxide, which activates later in the reaction. The catalytic effect is many times more pronounced than during the use of just copper oxide. The researchers link this phenomenon to the fact that copper stearate is oil-soluble and thus serves as a means of transport for copper oxide.