Schwab was also known as a writer of physical chemistry and catalysis textbooks, with important works such as the Physico-chemical Foundations of Chemical Technology (, 1928) or Catalysis from the Standoint of Chemical Kinetics (, 1931), the English translation of which was a standard textbook on catalysis for decades. He was the editor of all 7 volumes of the international Handbook of Catalysis (1940–1960).