N-Doped CMK-3 Carbons Supporting Palladium Nanoparticles as Catalysts for Hydrodechlorination

3D-Continuous Nanoporous Covalent Framework Membrane Nanoreactors with Quantitatively Loaded Ultrafine Pd Nanocatalysts

The confinement effect of catalytic nanoreactors containing metal catalysts within nanometer-sized volumes has attracted significant attention for their potential to enhance reaction rate and selectivity. Nevertheless, unregulated catalyst loading, aggregation, leaching, and limited reusability remain obstacles to achieving an efficient nanoreactor. A robust and durable catalytic membrane nanoreactor prepared by incorporating palladium nanocatalysts within a 3D-continuous nanoporous covalent framework membrane is presented. The reduction of palladium precursor occurs on the pore surface within 3D nanochannels, producing ultrafine palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) with their number density adjustable by varying metal precursor concentrations. The precise catalyst loading enables controlling the catalytic activity of the reactor while preventing excess metal usage. The facile preparation of Pd NP-loaded free-standing membrane materials allows hydrodechlorination in both batch and continuous flow modes. In batch mode, the catalytic activity is proportional to the loaded Pd amount and membrane area, while the membrane retains its activity upon repeated use. In continuous mode, the conversion remains above 95% for over 100 h, with the reactant solution passing through a single 50 µm-thick Pd-loaded membrane. The efficient nanoporous film-type catalytic nanoreactor may find applications in catalytic reactions for small chemical devices as well as in conventional chemistry and processes.

Synthesis of Pd-CoxOy Hybrid Nanostructure-Encapsulated Hollow Silica Nanospheres through Reverse Microemulsion Systems and Their Application as Efficient Hydrodechlorination Catalysts

Pd-Co_xO_y heteroaggregate-encapsulated hollow porous silica nanoreactors (Pd-Co_xO_y@HPSNs) were synthesized by a reverse microemulsion system. The key design of the developed reverse microemulsion system is to use poly(ethyleneimine) in the water droplets as the void templates for silica deposition and for anchoring the catalytic functionality inside the hollow silica nanospheres. The synthesized Pd-Co_xO_y@HPSNs contain ∼3 nm Pd-Co_xO_y hybrid nanostructures in ∼10 nm central cavities of silica nanospheres and illustrated a significantly promoted efficiency for hydrodechlorination of a series of chlorophenols into phenols under mild reaction conditions. The catalytic enhancement of Pd-Co_xO_y@HPSNs is ascribed to the synergistic effect between Pd and Co_xO_y and the protection of silica shells to the inner catalytic functionality.

Mesoporous ferrihydrite-supported Pd nanoparticles for enhanced catalytic dehalogenation of chlorinated environmental pollutant

Organic chlorides are a group of ubiquitous environmental pollutants that have attracted wide attention because of their carcinogenetic effect on human. Catalytic hydrodechlorination represents one of the most promising methods for the removal of these contaminants, but it suffers from drawbacks such as catalytic inefficiency and/or instability, and the danger of using H₂ as hydrogen source. The relationship between the catalyst structure and its dehalogenation activity has not been completely understood. By combining the advantages of Pd nanocatalyst and mesoporous ferrihydrite (Fh) with its distinctive structure, here we present a new composite material with Pd nanoparticles (NPs) supported onto the Fh (Pd/Fh), which has excellent catalytic dehalogenation performance with a rapid, complete dechlorination of chlorophenol (turnover frequency 25.2 min^-1) and the ability to perform well over a wide range of pH and temperature. The superior catalytic property of Pd/Fh can be attributed to the three unique functions of Fh, including: 1) having abundant hydroxyl groups that provide interaction sites with metals for incorporating highly dispersed small Pd NPs; 2) facilitating the fast adsorption of chlorophenol onto the catalyst surface via hydrogen bonding and importantly, 3) working as an electron mediator to greatly enhance the electron transfer from iron or chemicals (e.g., NaBH₄) to the catalyst, thereby achieving a synergistic effect between Pd catalyst and support, and an enhanced dechlorination activity. In essence, this work presents a promising catalyst for the efficient dehalogenation of chlorinated environmental pollutants and provides an insight into the relationship between catalyst structure and dehalogenation activity.

Promoted catalytic hydrodechlorination for deep degradation of chlorophenols over Rh-La/SiO2 catalyst

Deep degradation of chlorophenols (CPs) into safe and ecofriendly cyclohexanol during catalytic hydrodechlorination (HDC), shows important practical significance and attractive prospect in the treatment of wastewater containing chlorophenols. An efficient Rh-La/SiO₂ catalyst was developed, by employing La as promoter. The presence of La in catalyst promoted catalytic performance of HDC significantly. Characterization results revealed that the interaction occurred between Rh and La in Rh-La/SiO₂ catalyst. This interaction accompanied with the high dispersion and finely particle size of active Rh, and generation of abundant Rh sites neighboring La atom. Kinetic study illustrated that Rh-La(1:1)/SiO₂ catalyst possessed the fastest kinetic constants, and minimized the apparent activation energies of 4-CP, phenol and cyclohexanone greatly. Complete degradation of 4-CP with a very high yield of cyclohexanol (> 98%) can be achieved at room temperature, making Rh-La(1:1)/SiO₂ catalyst to be a promising candidate for deep degradation of CPs during HDC and other Rh catalyzed hydrogenation reactions.

Direct Synthesis of Atomically Dispersed Palladium Atoms Supported on Graphitic Carbon Nitride for Efficient Selective Hydrogenation Reactions

Heterogeneous catalysts with atomically precise metal sites have enabled unique insight into structure-property relationships in materials science. Herein, we report the construction and selective hydrogenation performance of a single-atom palladium catalyst by confining the palladium atoms into the six-fold N-coordinating cavities of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) through a facile spatial confinement-reduction approach under mild reducing conditions. Spherical aberration correction electron microscopy and extended X-ray absorption fine structure measurements confirm the presence of atomically dispersed palladium atoms stabilized by the g-C₃N₄ support. Its exceptional catalytic activity was demonstrated by the hydrogenation of styrene (98% conversion, 1.5 h) and furfural (conversion of 64% and selectivity of 99%, 4 h) and hydrodechlorination of 4-chlorophenol (99% conversion and 99% selectivity, 10 min). This palladium catalyst can be reused at least five times with negligible deterioration of its activity. Importantly, the palladium atoms retained their atomic dispersion following the thermal treatment. Moreover, this synthetic method can be scaled up while retaining similar catalytic activity. Fundamental insights are provided to elucidate how the material's structure significantly impacts the catalytic performance at the atomic scale.

Facile fabrication of CuxSy/Carbon composites using lignosulfonate for efficient palladium recovery under strong acidic conditions

The recovery of noble metals from aqueous systems is of great significance for constructing sustainable framework of modern industry yet remains challenging. Herein, Cu_xS_y/Carbon composites with superior thermal stability and adsorption capacity were successfully synthesized via one-pot hydrothermal method using lignosulfonate as dual role of raw materials. The optimal synthesis conditions were investigated via tailoring the temperature and the mass ratio of reagents. The morphologies and physical properties of the composites were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The surface chemistry was analyzed by Zeta potential analysis, Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The Langmuir model and the pseudo-second-order model well described the adsorption of Pd(II) and Pd(IV) delivered by fabricated composites. The adsorption capacity obtained from Langmuir isotherm model towards Pd(IV) was 114 mg/g and Pd(II) was 101 mg/g, respectively. More importantly, the adsorbed palladium species could be desorbed with hydrochloric acid and thiourea, which suggested good durability and recycling performance of the typical composite. This work might provide a new guidance for the utilization of lignin or its derivatives and enriched the research in the field of noble metal recovery.

Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 templated synthesis of a heterogeneous Pd catalyst for remediation of chlorophenols pollution

Herein, a heterogeneous Pd catalyst was prepared by embedding Pd nanoparticles in a highly porous nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon (NMCs) synthesized by the ZIF-8 template. The as-prepared Pd/NMC catalyst was efficient and recyclable in mild catalytic hydrodechlorination of 4-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, showing superior performances to those of the activated carbon-supported Pd commercial catalysts.

Microwave assisted combustion of phytic acid for the preparation of Ni2P@C as a robust catalyst for hydrodechlorination

Ni₂P@C facilely prepared by microwave assisted combustion with phytic acid and nickel nitrate exhibits even higher activity for the hydrodechlorination of HCFC-22 than Pd/C.