Synthesis of Pt and Pd Supported Nanocatalysts. Study of Kaolinite Layered Structure Effect on Their Catalytic Activity

Abstract In recent years kaolinite-supported nanoscale catalytic systems have been widely used in the mining industry owing to their high efficiency and selectivity. In this article, we present a synthesis and catalytic activity study (on n-heptane hydrocracking and hydroreforming processes) of kaolinite-, Al₂O₃- and silica gel- supported Pt/Pd catalysts. The structural peculiarities of these nanocatalysts were characterized using FTIR, SEM, X-ray powder diffraction and BET techniques. The obtained results show that the catalytic activity of Pt catalysts is higher compared to corresponding Pd catalysts, and the n-heptane conversion on Pt/SiO₂ and Pd/SiO₂ catalysts are weaker than corresponding catalysts deposited on Al₂O₃. Moreover, it has been discovered that swelling kaolinite with polar aprotic solvents, such as DMSO, and impregnating with Pt/Pd salts, results in formation of nanosized metal particles with high catalytic activity. The presented results also show that Pt/kaolinite catalysts were weaker in their activity to Pt/kaolinite/DMSO catalyst.