Hydrogen-assisted dechlorination of 1,2-dichloroethane over silica-supported nickel–ruthenium catalysts

Silica-supported nickel showed high catalytic activity and selectivity to ethylene in the hydrodechlorination of 1,2-dichloroethane at 230–250 °C. In contrast, Ru/SiO2 showed rather low activity and selectivity to ethylene. Introduction of ruthenium to nickel brings in a considerable increase of the overall activity, with only modest decrease of the ethylene selectivity. Although both metals are practically immiscible in solid state, their mutual interaction in the working state of catalyst is significant. The results are interpreted in terms of surface segregation of nickel which is very likely in light of the theory of segregation in bimetallic systems and substantiated by catalysts characterization.