Abstract
This paper reports palladium (Pd)-containing nanoparticle (NP) formation in nanoporous hypercrosslinked polystyrene (HPS), using Pd acetate as a precursor. It was demonstrated that the NP size and composition can be controlled by Pd acetate loading and post-impregnation treatment with hydrogen gas. The catalyst structure was studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray fluorescence analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and nitrogen physisorption measurements. The catalytic properties of the catalysts developed have been studied in a green process of D-glucose oxidation to D-gluconic acid. The latter and its Ca salt are used for pharmaceuticals and food supplement production. The most active catalyst was found to contain 1.7 nm Pd/PdO NPs at 1.09 wt% Pd loading. It provided 99.6% selectivity at 93.6% conversion. Repeated use of the same catalyst demonstrated exceptional stability in D-glucose oxidation, making these catalysts promising for industrial applications in sustainable processes.