Catalytic amination and dechlorination of para-nitrochlorobenzene (p-NCB) in water over palladium–iron bimetallic catalyst

Chemical treatment of para-nitrochlorobenzene (p-NCB) by palladium/iron (Pd/Fe) bimetallic particles represents one of the latest innovative technologies for the remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater. The amination and dechlorination reaction is believed to take place predominantly on the surface site of the Pd/Fe catalysts. The p-NCB was first transformed to p-chloroaniline (p-CAN) then quickly reduced to aniline. 100% of p-NCB was removed in 30 min when bimetallic Pd/Fe particles with 0.03% Pd at the Pd/Fe mass concentration of 3 g 75 ml−1 were used. The p-NCB removal efficiency and the subsequent dechlorination rate increased with the increase of bulk loading of palladium and Pd/Fe. As expected, p-NCB removal efficiency increased with temperature as well. In particular, the removal efficiency of p-NCB was measured to be 67%, 79%, 80%, 90% and 100% for reaction temperature 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 °C, respectively. Our results show that no other intermediates were generated besides Cl−, p-CAN and aniline during the catalytic amination and dechlorination of p-NCB.