Celluloses as Green Support of Palladium Nanoparticles for Application in Heterogeneous Catalysis: A Brief Review

Abstract

Palladium (Pd) is considered as powerful catalyst in many organic syntheses of industrial importance, employed in areas like medicine, pharmacology, cosmetics, pesticides and degradation of organic pollutants. In heterogeneous catalysis, stabilization of Pd nanoparticles (NPs) is foremost to prevent aggregation for getting high catalytic efficiency. Celluloses, being green support, have been widely used in different forms such as bulk, modified or nanocelluloses for stabilizing Pd NPs. The unique properties like high mechanical strength, thermal stability, high functionality, insolubility in water and in most organic solvents and good anchoring ability with metal NPs had made them good support for Pd NPs. However, special attention is needed on further improving the binding efficiency of Pd NPs with cellulose without affecting the catalytic property for achieving long term recycle stability. This review will focus on the merits and demerits of the existing cellulose supported Pd catalysts and propose solutions to overcome the limitations.