Palladium Catalysts Supported on Fishbone Carbon Nanofibers from Different Carbon Sources

Pd catalysts (0.5% Pd) supported on fishbone carbon nanofibers (FCNFs) from different carbon sources for terephthalic acid (TA) hydro-purification were prepared and investigated. CNFs from various carbon sources, CO (FCNF-CO), CH4 (FCNF-C1), and C2H4 (FCNF-C2), have been synthesized and characterized by N2 adsorption, XRD, and TPD-MS. The results indicated that though they all possess similar fishbone structure, the FCNF from CO has the largest specific surface area, highest graphitization degree, and a large amount of surface groups, while the FCNF from C2H4 has the least specific surface area, lowest graphitization degree, and moderate surface groups. Pd/CNFs were synthesized and characterized by TEM, N2 adsorption, XRD, and CO chemisorption. The catalytic activity for TA purification follows the sequence Pd/FCNF-CO > Pd/FCNF-C1 > Pd/FCNF-C2, which is in accordance with the sequence of Pd dispersion. It is believed that rather than the graphene arrangement, the synergic support effect of pore structure, crystallinity, and the surface chemistry dictates the Pd dispersion on FCNF and the consequent catalytic activity.