Preparation of Pd (0) and Pd (II) Nanotubes and Nanoparticles on Modified Bentonite and their Catalytic Activity in Oxidation of Ethyl benzene

The synthesis and application of palladium nanotubes and nanoparticles on modified bentonite was studied The solid/liquid interfacial layer of this architecturally designed bentonite was utilized as a nanoreactor for the synthesis of nanoparticles of Pd2+, and Pd0.The structure, specific surface area, and porosity of bentonite are significantly altered by the incorporation of nanoparticles. These alterations were monitored by different techniques such as N2 adsorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM was also eminently suitable for the determination of average particle size and size distribution functions. The size of the palladium nanoparticles prepared in this work was in the range of 5-15 nm. Solvent free oxidation of ethyl benzene using TBHP (80 wt% in hexane) as an oxidant showed that the palladium nanocatalysts prepared in this work, were highly active and selective.

Keywords:

nanoparticles , palladium , Na-bentonite , modified bentonite , ethylbenzene , oxidation