Synthesis of binary Cu–Pd–alginates dry bead and its high catalytic activity for hydroxylation of phenol

A series of binary Cu–Pd–alginate catalysts was prepared and their catalytic activities for phenol hydroxylation were investigated. The binary catalysts were characterized by UV–vis/DRS, FT-IR, ICP-AES, XPS, SEM and EDX measurements. The results of phenol hydroxylation illustrated that the conversions of phenol were associated with the immobilized content of the Cu2 + ions, as well the selectivities to dihydroxybenzene were determined by the immobilized content of the Pd2 + ions. The highest conversion of phenol catalyzed by Cu–Pd–ALG-30-1 was 53.9%, with selectivities to catechol and hydroquinone being 61.3% and 38.2%, respectively.

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► Prepared Cu-Pd-alginate dry bead catalysts.
► Catalysts for phenol hydroxylation.
► Conversion of phenol was associated with the immobilized content of the Cu2+ ions.
► Selectivity to dihydroxybenzene was associated with the immobilized content of the Pd2+ ions.