Calcified shrimp waste supported Pd NPs as an efficient catalyst towards benzene oxidation

Shrimp waste (SW) was calcified to CaCO3 and CaO with variant morphologies by simple calcination in air and used as efficient support for Pd NPs (<7 nm) in benzene oxidation. A combination of In-situ DRIFT, H2-TPR, Benzene and O2-TPD, SEM, XPS, TEM, and XRD characterization was utilized to study the physicochemical properties and revealed the possible oxidation mechanism. The existence of both Pd2+ and Pd0 were essential for the oxidation activity. 0.5-Pd/SW@600 catalyst with a low activation energy (Ea = 50 kJ/mol) presented the best activity among calcified SW supports. The observed performances correlated with the high Pd metal dispersion, the nature and morphology of the support and synergistic effect between the small Pd NPs and the SW supports. Additional, to the catalyst desirable stability and phenomenal reusability it was highly resistant to CO2 and H2O vapor. Considering their green, high efficiency, but cost-effective nature the biogenic Pd/SW catalysts are promising catalyst and a million tons...