Effect of different reduction methods on Pd/Al₂O₃ for o-xylene oxidation at low temperature

Pd/Al₂O₃ was pretreated by CO, H₂ and NaBH₄ reduction, respectively. The reduced catalysts were tested for o-xylene oxidation and characterized by power X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and temperature-programmed decomposition of palladium hydride (TPDH). The characterizations indicate the pretreatments lead to distinct Pd particle sizes and amount of surface activated oxygen species, which are responsible for the catalytic performance. Compared with H₂ and NaBH₄ reduction methods, CO reduction shows a strong interaction between Pd and Al₂O₃ with smaller Pd particle size and more surface activated oxygen. It exhibited excellent catalytic performance, complete oxidation of 50 ppmV o-xylene at 85°C with a WHSV of 60,000 mL/(g∙hr).