Research Projects

Hydrogenation is a widely studied process in academia and industries for the production of bulk and fine chemicals. Many industrial hydrogenations use cheaper Ni-based catalysts, but they require higher temperatures and pressure, leading to higher capital investment and operating costs. Pd-based catalysts with 5 or 10% Pd loading are commonly used due to their high activity. However, leaching of noble metals during the reaction can lead to nonrecyclability and nonselective hydrogenation due to harsh conditions. A novel catalyst, 1%Pd-MgF2-x(OH)x, has been successfully used for hydrogenation of organic molecules at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The catalytic activity is related to the acidic nature of the support and high Pd dispersion. The use of hydrogen gas (HF) for catalyst synthesis poses environmental concerns during scale-up. To address this, metal oxide-based solid acids with tunable acidity and high surface area for supporting Pd are proposed. Preparing Pd-based catalysts on acidic support can enhance metal-support interaction and alter the electronic properties of Pd, positively affecting catalytic activity for hydrogenation. Previous studies have indicated the formation of Pd nano-sheets on acidic support, leading to high hydrogenation activity under ambient conditions for olefins, nitroaromatics, and acetophenones. Further research is needed to optimize the catalyst composition for commercial use. The prepared catalysts will be characterized and evaluated for hydrogenation of industrially important molecules under ambient/milder reaction conditions using hydrogen gas as a source of hydrogen. Catalyst recycle studies will be conducted to understand structural changes during the catalytic reaction. In situ FTIR studies will be conducted to understand the hydrogen mechanism and acidity role in hydrogenation reactions.