Effect of hydrothermal treatment on the physicochemical characteristics of Pd/C composites prepared <Emphasis Type="Italic">via</Emphasis> pyrolysis of sawdust impregnated with palladium nitrate

Palladium supported on carbon (Pd/C) catalysts (0.55–0.65 wt.% of Pd) were synthesized by pyrolysis of birch sawdust under inert atmosphere proceeded by prolonged impregnation of sawdust in aqueous solution of palladium nitrate. In some cases, hydrothermal treatment (HT) of the pristine sawdust was conducted to modify the specific surface area of the final carbon material applied as a catalyst support. Based on low-temperature nitrogen adsorption technique, it was postulated that HT of sawdust in the liquid phase increases. while HT in the gaseous phase decreases the specific surface area of Pd/C. The obtained catalysts contained Pd particles (size ranged from 2 to 10 nm) both coated and not coated with carbon shell as evidenced by XPS and TEM techniques. The synthesized Pd/C composites provide high conversion of chlorobenzene and high selectivity in respect to benzene in hydrodechlorination reaction performed in a flow fixed-bed reactor in the presence of H₂. XPS data for Pd/C composites tested in the catalytic reaction indicate their high resistance to HCl. A minor part of metal Pd was found to transform into PdCl₂ and PdO.