Highly efficient reduction of bromate to bromide over mono and bimetallic ZSM5 catalysts

Abstract

The reduction of bromate to bromide was successfully catalyzed by mono and bimetallic catalysts based on ZSM5 zeolites. This reaction is important since the presence of bromate in water is potentially carcinogenic to humans. The catalysts were prepared by ion-exchange and incipient wetness methods with different metals (copper, palladium, rhodium and thorium) using ZSM5. Several analytical techniques (N₂ adsorption, TPR experiments, NH₃-TPD, FTIR, XRD, SEM/EDX and TEM/EDX) were used to characterize the mono and bimetallic catalysts prepared by the two methods. The catalytic tests were carried out in a semi-batch reactor under hydrogen, working at room temperature and pressure. All catalysts prepared are undeniably effective in achieving the complete conversion of bromate into bromide. The most promising among the catalysts tested in this work are the palladium bimetallic catalysts.