Controlled Pd deposition on fibers by electroless plating. The effects of the support on the reduction of nitrite in water

Pd catalysts supported on activated silica–alumina fibers (CFs) and activated carbon felts (ACFs) were prepared and evaluated for the reduction of nitrite in water in a batch reactor. The electroless plating (ELP) method was used in order to deposit small Pd particles on the surface of the fibers. While a homogeneous distribution of Pd nanoparticles was obtained for carbon fibers, this was not the case for ceramic ones in which non-homogeneous patches of Pd films were formed. This fact resulted in a higher activity for nitrite reduction when carbon fibers were used. However, the selectivity toward the undesired product ammonia, measured at the end of the reaction, was slightly higher for Pd/ACFs catalysts.