Pomegranate Peel Derived-Carbon for Highly Efficient Palladium-Based Catalysts for Acetylene Hydrochlorination

A series of porous carbons (PPC) derived from pomegranate peel were synthesized as catalyst supports for Pd/PPC catalysts via hydrothermal-carbonization and incipient wetness impregnation in an acetylene hydrochlorination reaction. The optimal Pd/PPC (500) catalyst with more than 99% of acetylene conversion and vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) selectivity was obtained using an orthogonal experimental design (OED) and single-factor experiments. Based on the catalytic performance and characterization of the Pd/PPC catalyst, the deactivation mechanism of the catalysts, which was attributed to carbon deposition on the catalysts’ surface, and the loss of active Pd species have been studied, which provides insights for the rational design of high-performance biomass-based acetylene hydrochlorination catalysts.