Studies on the utilisation of spent palladium-activated carbon (Pd/AC) catalysts

Abstract

The present paper offers an assessment of using wastes such as palladium-activated carbon (Pd/AC) catalysts through their regeneration or metal recovery. In order to regenerate a catalyst it has been found necessary to clean up its surface completely and restore the original form of the metal. Supercritical fluid extraction can be useful in removing organic substances from the surface of a spent catalyst whereas microwave mineralisation can be used to recover palladium from the mass of a spent catalyst.