Effects of pretreated carbon supports in Pd/C catalysts on rosin disproportionation catalytic performance

Pd/C catalysts were prepared by an incipient-wetness impregnation and their catalytic performance in disproportionation of rosin was investigated. The texture structure, groups on the activated carbon surfaces, and acidity were characterized by N 2 physisorption-desorption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). The Pd/AC3 (treated at 443 K) had the highest Pd dispersion (23.60%) with the highest specific surface area of activated carbon (1057 m 2 /g). Nevertheless, the Pd/AC0 (original carbon black) had the lowest Pd dispersion (13.07%) with a lower specific surface area of original activated carbon (994 m 2 /g). Pd/AC3 presented a considerable catalytic activity in the rosin disproportionation reaction, with 64.15% dehydroabietic acid and without abietic acid in product. However, Pd/AC0 (Pd supported on the original carbon) showed a much lower catalytic activity in the rosin disproportionation reaction, with 42.64% dehydroabietic acid and 3.59% abietic acid in product.