Hydrogenation of nitrobenzene over a composite catalyst based on zeolite supported N-doped carbon nanotubes decorated with palladium

A catalyst nanocomposite was synthesized based on zeolite supported nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNT) decorated with palladium nanoparticles. Zeolite beads impregnated with nickel nitrate solution were used as CCVD catalyst support during the synthesis of N-CNT. Then the zeolite supported N-CNT was decorated with palladium nanoparticles and the final nanocomposite was tested in nitrobenzene hydrogenation. The structure of the nanocomposite was characterized by SEM. The surface of the zeolite beads is extensively covered by N-CNT. The particle size distribution of the palladium nanoparticles on the surface of N-CNT is relatively homogenous (< 7 nm). The catalytic activity of the nanocomposite was the highest at 10 bar and 323 K while the achieved nitrobenzene/aniline conversion was 99.9% after 4 h of hydrogenation.