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XPS and acid-base titrations were used to investigate the nature and stability of oxygen-containing surface groups on carbon nanofibers (CNF) and platinum-containing CNF. During heat treatments in inert atmosphere at 973 K all acidic (carboxylic) oxygen surface groups were removed for CNF. Introduction of platinum decreased the temperature at which the acidic oxygen surface groups could be removed to 773 K. It has been demonstrated that both carboxyl and phenol surface groups are able to bring about platinum ion adsorption during Pt/CNF synthesis.

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The lignan hydroxymatairesinol (HMR, extracted from Norway spruce knots) was hydrogenolysed to matairesinol (MAT) over palladium supported by carbon nanofibres (Pd/CNF) in 2-propanol at 70°C under hydrogen flow. The influence of support acidity on the activity and the selectivity to MAT was studied. The acidity of the Pd/CNF catalyst was varied by heat-treatment at different temperatures in nitrogen flow. The catalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), inductively coupled plasma emission mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS, metal content), H 2 -chemisorption (dispersion, metal particle size), and titration using NaOH. A more acidic support material was more active and selective to the desired product MAT. The major byproduct was 7-iso-propoxymatairesinol resulting from a reaction of the solvent with HMR over the acid sites on the support. The hydrogenolysis of HMR to MAT requires both the presence of metal and acidity.