Performance of Pd/Sn catalysts supported by chelating resin prestoring reductant for nitrate reduction in actual water

Catalytic hydrogen reduction has appeared as a promising strategy for chemical denitrification with advantages of high activity and simple operation. However, the risk and low utilization of H2 is the disadvantage of catalytic hydrogen reduction. In recent years, catalytic reduction reactions in the presence of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) have been extensively studied. NaBH4 can be used as an electron source to generate electrons on the surface of the catalyst and can catalyze the reduction of pollutants. But it makes commercialization costly and causes significant environmental pollution if widely use NaBH4. In this study, we prepared supported Pd/Sn bimetallic nanoparticles which could adsorb NaBH4 during the preparation of the Pd/Sn bimetallic catalyst as the prestoring reductant. No additional reducing agent is required during nitrate reduction process. The performance and mechanism for nitrate reduction by using Pd/Sn bimetallic nanoparticles were discussed. Moreover, the catalyst D-Pd1/Sn1 reached a complete nitrate removal in the municipal wastewater treatment plant effluent water within 3 h. The results provide a prospect for denitrification in biological wastewater treatment plants.