CO2 as a regulator for the controllable preparation of highly dispersed chitosan-supported Pd catalysts in ionic liquids

Abstract

A controllable synthetic route has been developed for the preparation of chitosan supported Pd catalysts in an ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([Bmim]OAc), by using compressed CO₂ as the anti-solvent and regulator. It was found that the dispersion of Pd particles on chitosan and the catalytic activity of the as-prepared catalysts for the hydrogenation of styrene could be tuned by changing the pressure of CO₂.