Dechlorination of chlorobenzene compounds on flyash; effects of metals, aqueous/organic solvents and temperatures

Dechlorination of chlorobenzene compounds on flyash by using a solution of calcium hydroxide and sulfur in aqueous/organic solvent at 60–170 °C, under oxygen deficient conditions was studied. High percentage of dechlorination was obtained under certain reaction conditions. The results suggested that at 90 °C, metals in general and copper and lead in particular enhanced the catalytic potential of flyash for dechlorination by hydrodechlorination and substitution reactions. But at high temperatures (120–170 °C), dechlorination process was adversely affected by these metals. The effects of water, organic solvents, temperatures and heating time, were studied and reactions conditions were optimized to get maximum dechlorination.