Spherified Pd_0.33Ni_0.67/BCNT Catalyst for Nitrobenzene Hydrogenation

A separable bamboo-like carbon nanotube-based catalyst was prepared by the spherfication method using sodium alginate and nickel. The spheres were carbonized and then decorated with palladium nanoparticles before they were tested in nitrobenzene hydrogenation. The test was repeated with five different commonly used solvents (methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, tetrahydrofuran, and acetonitrile). According to the results, polar solvents showed a significantly higher aniline yield than the more apolar solvents and exceptional results were reported for ethanol (~100%). The catalyst was reused two more times (four hours each) to check the Pd leaching where the spheres kept their shape (despite the high mechanical friction caused by the mixer) and only a relatively low Pd amount was lost (5.48 rel.%). The catalyst was easily retrievable.