Synthesis of Pd/silica-alumina mesoporous catalyst by using catfish gelatin as template for hydrotreatment of pyrolyzed alpha-cellulose

Synthesis of Pd catalyst supported by mesoporous silica-alumina (MSA) from Sidoarjo mud with gelatin template from catfish bone for hydrotreatment of pyrolyzed α-cellulose had been carried out. The MSA was synthesized using hydrothermal method. The MSA was characterized by FTIR, SAA, XRD, AAS, TEM, and acidity test. The MSA synthesized in this work was impregnated with Pd metal using a wet impregnation method to produce Pd(A)/MSA (0.004 g Pd on 0.5 g MSA) and Pd(B)/MSA (0.008 g Pd on 0.5 g MSA) catalysts. The catalytic activity of Pd(A)/MSA and Pd(B)/MSA catalysts were evaluated in hydrotreatment of pyrolyzed α-cellulose. The MSA presented Si/Al ratio, acidity value, BET specific surface area, pore-volume, and BJH desorption pore diameter of 76.55; 6.52 mmol/g; 602.61 m²/g; 0.81 cm³/g and 3.60 nm, respectively. Pd(B)/MSA catalyst has Pd metal content of 0.83 wt. and acidity value of 15.66 mmol/g shows the highest catalytic activity in producing a liquid product of 89.01 wt. with the main product in the form of acetic acid compounds. © 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.