1 research outputs found
Lignocellulose Fiber- and Welded Fiber- Supports for Palladium-Based Catalytic Hydrogenation: A Natural Fiber Welding Application for Water Treatment
In our study, lignocellulose yarns
were fabricated via natural
fiber welding (NFW) into a robust, free-standing, sustainable catalyst
for water treatment. First, a series of powder catalysts were created
by loading monometallic palladium (Pd) and bimetallic palladium–copper
(Pd–Cu) nanoparticles onto ball-milled yarn powders via incipient
wetness (IW) followed by a gentle reduction method in hydrogen gas
that preserved the natural fiber while reducing the metal ions to
their zerovalent state. Material characterization revealed Pd preferentially
reduced near the surface whereas Cu distributed more uniformly throughout
the supports. Although no chemical bonding interactions were observed
between the metals and their supports, small (5–10 nm), near-spherical
crystalline nanoparticles were produced, and a Pd–Cu alloy
formed on the surface of the supports. Catalytic performance was evaluated
for each Pd-only and Pd–Cu powder catalyst via nitrite and
nitrate reduction tests, respectively. Next, the optimized Pd–Cu
linen powder catalyst was fiber-welded onto a macroporous linen yarn
scaffold via NFW and its catalyst performance and reusability were
evaluated. This fiber-welded catalyst reduced nitrate as effectively
as the corresponding powder, and remained stable during five consecutive
cycles of nitrate reduction tests. Although catalytic activity declined
after the fiber-welded catalyst was left in air for several months,
its reactivity could easily be regenerated by thermal treatment. Our
research highlights how lignocellulose supported metal-based catalysts
can be used for water purification, demonstrating a novel application
of NFW for water treatment while presenting a sustainable approach
to fabricate functional materials from natural fibers