Pomegranate peel derived carbon for highly efficient Pd catalysts for acetylene hydrochlorination

A series of porous carbons (PPC) derived from pomegranate peel were synthesized as catalyst supports. Pd precursor was used as an active species to prepare Pd/PPC catalysts via incipient wetness impregnation, and were evaluated for acetylene hydrochlorination. Using orthogonal experimental design (OED), the optimal catalyst achieved more than 99% of acetylene conversion and vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) selectivity. Furthermore, various characterization techniques were utilized to study the deactivation machanism of the catalysts which was attributed to carbon deposition on catalysts surface and the loss of active Pd species (particularly Pd2+). This study provides insights for rational design of high-performance biomass-based acetylene hydrochlorination catalysts.