Preparation of palladium impregnated alumina adsorbents: Thermal and neutron activation analysis

•Pd/Al2O3 composite microspheres particles with high surface area were prepared sol–gel process.•Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies on silver coated particle.•Content of the palladium was determined using Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA).•Decomposition study has been done by quadrupole mass analyser. Pd/Al2O3 composite microspheres particles with high surface area were prepared sol–gel process. The decomposition of dried gel-particles was studied by TGA/DTA and FT-IR technique. TGA studies indicated that formation of palladium is marked by a broad exothermic peak with a loss of water and oxidation of trapped HMTA/Urea nitrate mixture. The main decomposition reaction took place in the temperature range of 660–1250K in helium and relatively lower temperature of 400K to 1250K in oxygen. Optical microscopy indicated that the distribution of palladium is uniform. SEM studies on silver coated particle indicated that there was surface erosion of some gel spheres while in few of them micro cracks were seen at high resolution. Content of the palladium was determined using Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA). Decomposition at various temperatures was studied using Residual gas analyser and decomposition species were identified using quadrupole mass analyser.