Activated Carbon from Renewable Material as an Efficient Support for Palladium Oxidation Catalysts

Activated carbon prepared from cocoa pod husk, which is an abundant agricultural waste, was employed as a green support for palladium oxidation catalysts. Systematic characterization of the support and palladium catalysts by atomic emission spectroscopy, N₂ and CO₂ physisorption measurements, X‐ray powder diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, electron microscopy, temperature‐programmed reduction by hydrogen, and temperature‐programmed desorption of NH₃ and CO₂ allowed detailed monitoring of their characteristics. Subsequently, the catalytic performance and selectivity in the oxidation of ethanol as a model volatile organic compound (VOC) was studied and linked to physicochemical properties of the catalysts.