Hydrodehalogenation of chlorobenzene on activated carbon and activated carbon supported catalysts

Chlorinated aromatic compounds in (waste) gases can be removed and/or dehalogenated by passing over a bed of activated carbon (AC) in a hydrogen containing atmosphere. Dehalogenation of the model compound chlorobenzene (PhCl) to HCl is complete at 490 °C––rather than the not, vert, similar900 °C needed for the mere gas-phase reaction––but part of the benzene moieties is retained on the AC, resulting in its rather rapid deactivation, apparently due to a large decrease in surface area. Therefore, <1 mmol PhCl per gram of ‘catalyst’ could be processed. At 600 °C chlorobenzene yields 100% of both HCl and benzene, but still the AC lost most of its activity in time. Performances are compared of three different commercial ACs. As a HCl-washed AC is just as active, metals are not involved. This acid-washed AC was used as a support for 10 wt% Ni or Fe catalysts. While Fe did not show appreciable activity, results with Ni are promising. The yields of HCl and benzene from PhCl are not, vert, similar100% already at T<400 °C, and T50%congruent with260 °C, over 200 °C lower than with AC alone. There is no appreciable decrease of activity after having injected >20 mmol PhCl per gram of catalyst at partial conversion.