Pd–Fe nanoparticles stabilized by chitosan derivatives for perchloroethene dechlorination

A series of chitosan-stabilized Pd-NZVI (nano-zero-valent-iron) catalysts for dechlorination with variation in their composition and in the nature of the polymer has been prepared. The synthesis proceduresand palladium and chitosan contents were optimized. It was demonstrated by the XPS method that Fe and Pd in Fe–Pd/chitosan samples exist in the metallic state. The positive shift of the binding energy as compared with the bulk metal shows that the iron metal in the surface layers exists as very small nanoparticles. The prepared materials were characterized also by the XAS method. The presence of O and N atoms in the first coordination shell of the central Fe atom in the Fe–Pd/chitosan samples certifies the binding of the Fe metal particles with the chitosan surface via OH and NH2 groups. The samples are characterized by the high stability of the nanoparticles as compared to unstabilized Pd-NZVI. The materials were tested to evaluate their catalytic activity in the perchloroethene (PCE) dechlorination reaction. Some samples of chitosan-stabilized Pd-NZVI revealed a good performance in PCE degradation as compared to unstabilized Pd-NZVI.