Characteristics and catalytic activity of carbons obtained from pitch containing noble metal complexes Original Research Article

Pyrolysis or steam activation of pitch containing various noble metal acetylacetonates provides carbon materials with homogeneously dispersed metal (Pd, Pt, and Rh), and the characteristics of pore and metals formed in carbons were investigated. BET surface areas of activated carbons obtained by steam activation of pitch carbonized at low temperature (500°C) increased with increasing activation time. Catalytic activities of these metal containing carbons for hydrogenation of 1-hexene were tested. The activated carbon obtained from pitch containing both palladium acetylacetonate and platinum acetylacetonate presented high catalytic activities. The results suggest that carbon-supported noble metal catalyst with high activity can be readily prepared by activation of pitch containing noble metal complexes.