Re: can you have a non-protein catalyst?

In a single word answer, Yes. A catalase is an enzyme which decomposes 
hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. However, there are also many 
other substances which will decompose hydrogen perioxide. Hydrogen 
peroxide is a very unstable compound and hence decomposes readily when 
there is any contamination. Light will also decompose hydrogen perioxide, 
this is why it's always stored in a dark bottle. Now, a catalyst on the 
other hand is a substance which will speed up a reaction without itself 
being modified in the resulting product. It can do this in many different 
ways such as providing a path for an intemediary product which then will 
react again to provide the desired resulting product. There are many 
inorganic catalysts everwhere you look. In fact, just about every car on 
the road today has an inorganic catalyst installed in the exhaust system. 
I'm sure you've heard of a catalytic converter on a car, well this works 
by using platinum as a catalyst to help complete the combustion of 
hydrocarbons in your vehicle's exhaust system before they are emitted into 
the atmosphere. So, in response to your question, it is possible to have 
an inorganic catalyst, in fact, they are very common.