Abstract: It is herein described the use of nanostructured metal catalysts for the production of syngas and hydrogen-rich gaseous mixtures; the catalysts are constituted by nanostructured metal particles obtained by reduction of metal complexes formed of metal salts and template polymers, whose molecular weight ranges from 1000 to 50000 g mol?1 prepared by condensation of a 4-{1-[(phenyl-2,4-disubstituted)-hydrazono-alkyl}-benzene-1,3-diol with phenol, or a 3,5 disubstituted phenol, and formaldehyde, or para-formaldehyde in the presence of an acid or basic catalyst in water/alcohol mixtures at temperatures between 20 and 150° C.

Abstract: Due to its ability to activate small molecules, palladium is increasingly used mainly in catalysis. For example in 2002 the world demand for Pd for the production of catalytic converters for motor vehicles was 64% of the total, equal to 3.08 million oz. Its high cost coupled with the environmental impact of disposal of these spent materials focuses attention on its quantitative recovery by means of economically advantageous industrial processes with low environmental impact. The present invention makes available a method which is easy to apply on an industrial scale for the recovery of palladium in one single step and in mild conditions that meets the above-mentioned industrial requirements. The method uses adducts of N,N?-dialkyl-perhydrodiazepine-2,3-dithione.