Studies on magnesia supported mono- and bimetallic Pd-Fe catalysts prepared by microwave irradiation method

Magnesia supported mono- and bimetallic Pd-Fe catalysts were prepared by conventional and microwave irradiation method. The prepared catalysts were characterised by N 2 adsorption, temperature programmed reduction, selective hydrogen chemisorption and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The conventionally prepared catalysts after high temperature reduction (HTR) showed the formation of Pd-Fe alloy. In the case of microwave irradiated catalysts the formation of Pd-Fe alloy is limited during HTR reduction. These catalysts activity was tested in hydrodechlorination (HDC) of chlorobenzene. The catalysts prepared by microwave irradiation method are more active compared to conventionally prepared ones. The microwave irradiation leads to different morphology of the bimetallic catalysts. The HDC activity results are discussed in terms of structural differences between the catalysts prepared by conventional and microwave irradiation.